O Say Can You See Food

So I was intrigued on a recent trip to my local mega thrifty acred grocery store at the over abundance of food (well, sugar laden desserts really) with patriotic themes. Now, I am no stranger to the Red White and Blue flag Jell-O, as I own my own mold and make it nearly every July 4tth. I think my reputation for boiling water and stirring is firmly established. I was, however, surprised to see that we can now make our summertime s'mores with colored star marshmallows. And, if you are not so inclined to boil water or roast on an open flame, you can purchase an eagle made up entirely of cupcakes. The confluence for our love of country and dessert may be why we are the biggest, I mean most powerful nation on earth. God Bless America.

Star Spangled Girl, a 1971 romantic comedy, based on a Neil Simon play, starring none other than America's sweetheart, Sandy Duncan. Set in radical 1960s San Francisco, Duncan plays Amy, a country rube all-American girl Olympic swimming champion, who arrives to train for a big meet and stumbles into the lives of two near do well underground newspaper men, Andy and Norman. Norman immediately falls for Amy, because of her smell and hilarity ensues. However, Amy doesn't love Norman. She loves Andy, because of his scent. He doesn't return her affections until she leaves to go back home and he realizes that her odor has permeated his life and apartment. The opening credits song is "Girl" by Monkee Davy Jones (which was also featured in a Brady Bunch episode to boost publicity for the song and film). Funny, no one ever smelled Oscar for this red, white and blue classic.

The Recipe: ( for flag Jell-O)

1 qt (4 cups) boiling water

2 pkg (4 serving size each) or 1 pkg (8 serving size) berry blue gelatin

2 pkg or 1 pkg any red gelatin

3 cups ice cold water

1 pkg (4 serving size) lemon gelatin

1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed

Blueberries and tiny marshmallows for garnish, if desired

Special Equipment: Jell-O Flag Mold (may need to travel to LeRoy, NY)

Add 1 1/2 cups boiling water to blue gelatin in a medium bowl; stir at least 2 minutes until gelatin is dissolved. Dissolve red in 1 1/2 cups boiling water in separate bowl. Stir 1 1/2 cups ice cold water into dissolved gelatin in each bowl. Spray 10 cup flag mold with no stick spray (this is very important, as getting the flag to neatly separate from the mold is quite tricky and often spells disaster); place on cookie sheet. Pour red into mold. refrigerate 45 minutes until set but not firm. Meanwhile, refrigerate blue in bowl for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, stir remaining 1 cup boiling water into lemon in bowl at least 2 minutes, until dissolved. Refrigerate 25 minutes or until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites), stirring occasionally. Stir in cool whip with wire whisk. Gently spread over red in mold. Refrigerate 10 minutes or until set but not firm. Gently spoon thickened blue over lemon mixture in mold. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight until firm. Unfurl, I mean unmold and serve.