Although real worms are used in some kitchens, most diners prefer to deal with the caramelized version of these Halloween worms. Follow your guide's directions and impress your partygoers by serving them a plate of edible worms and earth.
Ingrediants
- 180 g or 2 packs of Raspberry Jelly
- 3 packs / 25 g unflavoured gelatin or agar agar
- 180 ml of whipping cream
- 720 ml of boiling water
- 10-15 drops of Green Food Coloring
- Dark brown cookies (for the earth), Oreo or Ringo without the cream are suitable for use
Steps
Step 1. Prepare the jelly
Pour the raspberry jelly and plain jelly, or agar agar, into a mixing bowl and add the boiling water. Set the mixture aside to cool for about 15-20 minutes, but not long enough to thicken. The gelatin or agar agar will soften and melt into the mixture, increasing its consistency.
Step 2. When the mixture has cooled sufficiently, stir in the whipping cream and green food coloring
Add color only a little at a time, gradually, until you get the desired shade. You may need to modify the doses indicated here according to your needs. Mix the ingredients with patience.
Step 3. Arrange the straws in the milk carton in an upright position
Point the flexible end down, for easier filling, that part of the straw will make your worms even more realistic. Make sure that the position of the straws is firmly vertical and, if necessary, tie them with a rubber band so that they do not sag. Also make sure that the base of each straw rests fully on the flat surface of the container.
Step 4. Pour the gelatinous mixture into the straws
It will not be necessary to fill them completely. Choose enough length for your worms to appear real.
- If necessary, transfer the gelatinous mixture into a jug with a spout, to pour it more accurately.
- For even higher accuracy, albeit a bit complex, use a clean syringe and inject the gelatin into the straws. Fill the syringe with the mixture and squeeze it into each straw. You can also connect a small rubber tube to the tip of the syringe and then insert it into the straws.
Step 5. Cool your worms
If possible let them rest and thicken in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or better until the following day. Do not place them in the freezer, or you will get a mushy and unwelcome texture.
Step 6. Crumble the cookies
Transfer them to a bag and break them up with a rolling pin. Pour the crumbled biscuits on the bottom of the chosen dish, they will become the land where your worms crawl.
Step 7. Remove the worms from the straws
This step can be quite complex and may take some practice to complete correctly.
- Tap them to see if they slide out easily. Try squeezing them gently between your thumb and forefinger, moving your fingers along the straw to help them come out.
- Place each straw under hot water for 1 or 2 seconds, let the worms slip onto a sheet of parchment paper. Do not allow water to enter the straw, it could ruin the shape and texture of the worms.
- Use the nozzle of a bicycle pump to 'blow' the worms out of the straws.
- Gently pass the rolling pin over the straw to expand it. Transfer the worms to a sheet of parchment paper.
- Place a second straw in connection with the one filled with jelly and blow (as long as you are in perfect health, nobody likes to eat cold germs).
Step 8. Serve your scary dish
Place the worms in the earth and bring your creation to the table. Sprinkle some more 'crumbs' of earth to make the effect even more realistic and impressive.
Advice
- You can use a differently flavored gelatin to get worms of different colors.
- Depending on the gelatin used and the climatic conditions, you may need to change the doses of water and cream. Follow the directions on the package carefully for an ideal result.
- If you don't want to present the dish immediately, save the seeds on a sheet of parchment paper and put them back in the refrigerator. Assemble the dish when serving.
