Christmas sleep deprivation- all you parents out there know what I am talking about.  The Mall and Toys-R-Us are open until 11:00:  shopping, shopping and more shopping and then there is all the wrapping, baking, cleaning, decorating etc. on top of everything else you usually do.  The following jello salad is evidence of this very brain stupor resulting from lack of time upon my mattress.  At Christmas what could be more appropriate and festive than a ribbon jello salad?  There are really endless color variations to a ribbon salad, so you can mix it up for any holiday or special occasion.  This particular salad was intended to be alternating colors of green, white and red; however, I did two layers of green in the middle and did not even notice until my last layer of red.  Oh, well it still looked good and tasted great.  Here is the recipe:

Christmas Ribbon Jello

1 (3 oz.) package lime jello

1 (3 oz.) package raspberry jello

1 (3 oz.) package lime jello

1 (3 oz.) package strawberry or cherry jello

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (we used Knox brand)

1/2 cup cold water

2 cups milk

1 cup sugar

2 cups sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Dissolve lime jello in 1 cup boiling water.  Add 1/2 cup cold water and stir.  Pour into a 9×13 pan coated with non-stick spray.  Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until firm.

Meanwhile in medium saucepan, sprinkle unflavored gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water.  Let it stand for about one minute.  Stir in milk and sugar.  Cook and stir over medium heat until gelatin and sugar are dissolved.

Remove from heat and whisk in sour cream and vanilla.  Gently pour about 1 1/2 cups white gelatin mixture over firm layer of green jello.  Chill about 30 minutes or until firm. (At this point I keep remaining amount of white gelatin in pan.  If it begins to thicken up before I use it for the next layer, I turn stove to simmer for just a few minutes and whisk gelatin until smooth and then turn off heat.)

Dissolve raspberry jello in 1 cup boiling water.  Add 1/2 cup cold water and stir.  Gently pour over firm white layer.  Chill about 30 minutes or until firm.

Gently pour about 1 1/2 cups white gelatin mixture over firm layer of red jello.  Chill about 30 minutes or until firm.

Dissolve lime jello in 1 cup boiling water.  Add 1/2 cup cold water and stir.  Gently pour over firm white layer.  Chill about 30 minutes or until firm.

Gently pour about 1 1/2 cups white gelatin mixture over firm layer of green jello.  Chill about 30 minutes or until firm.

Dissolve strawberry jello in 1 cup boiling water.  Add 1/2 cup cold water and stir.  Gently pour over firm white layer.  Chill about 30 minutes or until firm and enjoy!

This recipe is by Melody Mellinger at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Seven-Layer-Gelatin-Salad-2/Detail.aspx

Now Go Get Some Sleep and Have Jiggling Jello Dreams!