Individual Layered Jello for Valentines Day

I'm not a huge Jello lover, but this is so pretty and has cool whip mixed into some of the layers so that makes it mo' betta for sure! This is very easy to make, the downside is it's a little time consuming because you have to wait for each layer to set up - for me that was about an hour in between. I only wanted to make 2 glasses  (I don't have room in my fridge for a lot of these glasses), so with a little math I figured out how to divide 2 big packages (.6 oz each) of strawberry jello into 5 layers. If you want to do more servings just double these amounts for every 2 more you want to make.

this picture is a little deceiving, the top layer is
 the same depth as the bottom layer.

First layer: put 2 teaspoons of jello in a measuring cup and added 1/2 cup hot water, stir until dissolved and then add 1/2 cup cold water. Pour into 2 clear glasses, chill until set.

Second layer: put 2 teaspoons of jello in a measuring cup and add 1/2 cup hot water, stir until dissolved and then add 1/2 cup cold water. Stir in 1/2 cup cool whip until completely blended. Pour on top of first layer, chill until set.

Third layer: I only used 1 teaspoon of jello and 1/4 cup hot water, stir until dissolved and then add 1/4 cup cold water. Pour over second layer, chill until set.

Fourth layer: use 1 teaspoon of jello and 1/4 cup hot water, stir until dissolved and add 1/4 cup cold water. Stir in 1/4 cup cool whip until completely blended, pour on top of third layer, chill until set.

Top layer: use remaining 2 teaspoons of jello and repeat directions for first layer. Chill until set.

To serve, top with a dollop of cool whip and a strawberry.  

*obviously you can use any flavor you want!

the cool whip layers sort of separate and make
their own layers, so it gives the illusion of even
more layers than you made!

Hot Chocolate Spoons

My friend Janis needed gifts for her neighbors so we made crunchy fruity granola for the adults and these hot chocolate spoons for the kids - I'll post the granola tomorrow - it turned out SO cute, I'm loving this for gifts!

I saw the idea here - instead of candy melts we used a tray of chocolate I found at the grocery store meant for melting right in the tray and dipping strawberries or whatever.

Melt the chocolate according to directions. Spoon chocolate into ice cube trays using about 1 1/2 tablespoons in each of the squares. Decorate with toppings and insert spoon into each square. After it is completely set gently remove from the cube trays.

We decorated with crunched up candy canes, mini m&ms, andes mint bits, and colored chocolate chips.

To package them we cut off the ziplock top on cute treat bags I got at the dollar store, put in a chocolate spoon and a few mini marshmallows, tied with bakers twine, and attached a label with directions (which are to stir into a glass of hot milk). I found the label from here, and then made a sheet of them to print out.

We used 16 oz. of chocolate and made 20 spoons.