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Jello with Pistachios and Chia Seeds #FoodnFlix

I love watching movies but I am pretty stuck in my favorite genres, and fantasy is not one of them. So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself eagerly watching Pan's Labyrinth, a 2006 film that has been dubbed the best fantasy film of all time for our February Food and Flix filmKatharina at Pretty Cake Machine chose this movie for us.  This film is set in 1944 in Spain, during the war. Captain Vidal, a soldier of Franco's, is sent to flush out the anti-Franco rebels hiding in the mountains.  Here is where we learn of Captain Vidal's completely sadistic mind, as he kills two farmer's who were hunting rabbit in cold blood.  Captain Vidal is married to Carmen, who is pregnant with his child but very ill.


While the movie's disturbingly graphic on the horror's of war, it is juxaposed with the story of Olfelia, who is actually a princess from another time.  A faun comes to help her rejoin with her family from the past, by doing a few tasks.  During these tasks, Olfelia has to defy her mother, whom she loves very much.  The fantasy portion of the movie is intense, with creatures that are horrifying but helpful. Olfelia trusts them, perhaps too much.



So how does this movie fit with cooking?  There were a couple of food scenes that show lavish food spreads of food, vegetables and meats, the rabbits that were found in the farmer's knapsacks after they were killed, and of course, the food scene where Olfelia is warned NOT to eat a thing, no matter how tempted she might be. In this scene, the Pale Man, whose eyes are embedded in the palm of his hand, is surrounded by luscious looking foods, all mostly reds and purples (maybe looking like blood?) and this is where I took my inspiration.


My mother in law had a wonderful jello mold that I took when we were cleaning out her home.  The glistening jello salad by the Pale Man caught my eye and I decided to create something around that.



Jello with Pistachios and Chia Seeds

by Our Good Life
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Ingredients (serves 8)
  • 4 pkgs unflavored gelatin
  • 8 pkgs stevia
  • 1/2 t almond extract
  • 1/4 c chia seeds
  • 1/2 c chopped pistachios
  • 1 c cold water
  • 3 c hot water
Instructions
Soak chia seeds in 1/4 c water. In one cup of cold water in an 8 cup heat resistant bowl, pour gelatin on top and let soak for ten minutes. Heat 3 cups of water to boiling. Pour hot water into gelatin. Stir well. Add food coloring to desired color. Add in almond extract. Pour 1 cup of the gelatin mixture into your jello mold or 8 by 8 inch metal pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Place the remaining jello in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, stir the chia seeds and pistachio into the 3 cups of jello. Chill for an additional 30 minutes. Pour the 3 cups of jello into the mold. Refrigerate another two hours.

To unmold, dip the metal bottom and up to the jello line into a basin of hot water. Rest for about 10 sections. Check to see if the mold is loose enough to come out. Check in 10 second increments. Place plate on the bottom of the mold and invert.

Serve with whipped cream.
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  1. Just as beautiful as the one at the Pale Man's table! Love that you used chia seeds (and pistachios) - I need to try that in my next jello mold. So pretty. :)

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  2. I usually like eating Jello with fruit like pineapples, but I have never tried it with anything else. I'm definitely going to try it with chia seeds the next time I make it!

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  3. Ditto on the not a bit fantasy movie fan. But - a classic jello mold. I mean - that is golden! Love the reminder of adding whipped cream. Done and done.

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  4. Wow, it's so beautiful! Sounds lovely! I love pistachios and chia seeds, I should give this a try!

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  5. I think this would be a fun to serve and try! I haven't had much with chia seeds in it. I think this looks like fun!

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  6. I am not really a jello fa, unless it is jello shots... but this looks really good!

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  7. What a great combo! I have never seen a jello like this before. I do love jello in the molds though!

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  8. I have gotten into the healthy habit of adding chia seeds to just about everything, but I've never thought of jello! Definitely can't wait to give this a try this weekend!

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  9. I'm not a big jello fan unless it has other items with it, so this sounds like something I would try. I love pistachios and add some whipped cream on top and I'm golden!!

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  10. This JELLO dish looks so delicious and very unique. I have two totally different daughters and I'm sure the more adventurous eater would love this!

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  11. I haven't had jello in so long! I bet it's great topped with whipped cream!

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  12. Ah snap I am joining in FoodnFlix this month too and was also inspired by the Pale Man scene. I think many of us were :) I love how you have thrown in some chia seeds to the jello mix, I think i will do that in the future.

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  13. This looks really yummy! I imagine the smooth jello juxtaposed with the seeds is an interesting texture, too! I don't think I've ever had jello with anything other than fruit!

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  14. I haven't had jello in forever! I love that you added pistachios and chia seeds, sounds great!

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  15. This sounds really good and I would definitely love to try it out! I haven't had jello in a really long time.

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  16. I have my grandmother's old tupperware mold that has the different holiday pop-ins. I must try this.

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  17. That would be perfect on the Pale Man's table. How neat that you can enjoy your mom's jello mold.

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  18. I was so intrigued by those jello like plates in the movie, great idea to recreate that! SO clever to add chia seeds and pistachios!

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  19. That looks delicious! I admit that I hardly noticed anything on the Pale Man's spread, because i was too busy hiding my face under the covers!!

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  20. I like your post. It is good to see you verbalize from the heart and clarity on this important subject can be easily observed... heirloom seeds

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