Making jelly

rlm_3

In a bid to lose a few pounds (in both physical and money terms), I've been taking sugar-free jelly to work with me as a snack. The only problem with it is the taste - it's very weak. I was wondering whether it's possible to make jelly with fruit juice instead of water to make it taste fruitier. What do you think? Has anyone tried this? How did it turn out?

Thanks
rlm

exlibris

I maake all jellies which have fruit set in them with the juice from the tinned fruit made up to about 16 fl oz with water. The jelly is slightly firmer. If you use fresh fruit for this don't use pineapple or kiwi fruit. The jelly doesn't set.

thriftlady_2

You don't need any of those sugar-free jelly packets. Get some sachets of gelatine from the baking aisle and make it up using fruit juice But, yes you can use fruit juice with the packet stuff. In fact, I've never made it any other way. I always add furuit too, usually from a can, then use the juice from the can.

vivw_2

watch the calories in fruit juice!

rainbowrisin

You may wish to try this - I haven't made this, but have tasted the results, and they tasted nice. Use strips of gelatine, but make the jelly with a fruit tea - not one of the herb ones, but you can get mango and pineapple ones and similar. Sweeten with that saccharin / aspartane sugar replacement stuff you can get. This contains minimal calories and does have quite a strong taste if you leave the tea bag to infuse in the water for quite a while.
You can also use the calorie free flavoured waters as well.
If you are looking for a low cal cold dessert then I recommend frozen banana - either shape and mash with a dab of lemon juice, or just jab the nana with a stick and freeze, then eat like an ice lolly. Obviously a nana has calories, but it tastes like a really creamy dessert and is a healthy choice.

HappyIdiotTalk

rainbowrisin wrote:

Sweeten with that saccharin / aspartane sugar replacement stuff you can get.

Interestingly aspertame has a whole load of side effects... like bulging eyes, ringing ears, depression, death, irreversible brain damage... stuff like like. Check out this list:

http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

I'd avoid it like the plague! If you search this forum you'll find plenty of people preferring full sugar products rather than touching anything with that stuff in it!

rlm_3

I was wondering (again) whether I could make jelly with fruit juice so did a search for it and then just realised that I had already posted about it but never replied! I'm not blonde for nothing...:o

Thanks everyone for your replies. Never though of using gelatin. Even if the fruit juice includes calories, it will still be less (I hope) than the calories that I would eat if I had crisps and chocolate instead.

Thanks again

dawnybabes

You could always make the orange ones up with sugar free orangade ? Would make it oranger (likewise blackcurrantade etc etc )

If I'm doing this I make it as per instructions for the hot water and top up with the pop.

Gingernutmeg

If you're taking the jelly to work and it's not being chilled, I'd avoid using gelatine and try a vegetarian alternative, like vege-gel. It's no more expensive, and warm gelatine is a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of nasties (and I personally can't stand the smell of it!!) and the vegetarian alternative is a little safer.

rlm_3

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

If you're taking the jelly to work and it's not being chilled, I'd avoid using gelatine and try a vegetarian alternative, like vege-gel. It's no more expensive, and warm gelatine is a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of nasties (and I personally can't stand the smell of it!!) and the vegetarian alternative is a little safer.

I never knew there was such a product. We have a fridge at work but that would still be better. Thanks for that

tra_2

dawnybabes wrote: »

You could always make the orange ones up with sugar free orangade ? Would make it oranger (likewise blackcurrantade etc etc )

If I'm doing this I make it as per instructions for the hot water and top up with the pop.

I always make Jelly with pop - it becomes fizzy jelly. I love it.