Chef Andy: I am remembering back 20 years ago when my great grandmother would make Jell-o with icecream whipped into it. I was quite young and did not pay attention as to how she did this or the size of proportions. Would you have a recipe you could share with me? Thanks for your page and your time!

Hi, Clearheart!

It's likely that your great-grandmother's recipe was something like the following. The "crust" of ladyfingers is essential if you want the dessert to be freestanding; with the added ice cream, the Jell-O loses its firmness and can't stand up on its own. It's delicious simply out of a bowl, though, if you don't happen to have a dozen ladyfingers around! A more modern variation could involve split Twinkies in place of the ladyfingers.

Ice Cream Party Dessert 
An ice cream and gelatin mixture for a special occasion.

2 packages (3 oz. each) or 1 package (6 oz.) Jell-O
  Black Cherry, Black Raspberry, or Raspberry Gelatin.
3 1/2 cups boiling water.
1 quart vanilla ice cream.
12 ladyfingers, split.

Dissolve Jell-O gelatin in boiling water.  Add ice cream by
spoonfuls and stir until melted.  Chill, stirring occasionally,
until very thick.  Trim ladyfingers to about 2 1/2 inch length;
place around sides of 9-inch springform pan.  Stir gelatin
mixture and pour into pan.  Chill until firm.  Before serving,
loosen and remove sides of pan.  Garnish with sweetened whipped
cream or prepared Dream Whip Dessert Topping and fruit, if
desired.  Makes 12 servings.

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