Jelly Jello Worms
The Jelly / Jello has set
I wrote about the difficulties in starting to make Jelly worms and left them ready to start setting. By this morning they were set. But even though I used less water than normal, they were not sufficiently firm to look like worms and I must have spent half an hour just squeezing a few of them out of the plastic drinking straws.
Another Practice Run
It will need another practice run at these if I am to make them for Hallowe'en but I might just forget all about them! 
Liberating the Worms
I ended up having to squeeze the worms out of their straws individually. I had intended to use a rolling pin but the jelly around the outside of the straws was so sticky and soft, I ended up putting them on a plate, rather than squeeze them out onto my working surface. Note to self, get a silicone baking mat or pastry mat, which is flat, as you can't use a rolling pin on a plate! Despite this and despite my granddaughter's willing helping hands, some of the worms ended up on the floor! The cat isn't as quick to check the dropped bits as she would be if it were chicken tuna or some other meat. jelly worms don't seem to attract her.
Need Gelatine
I think these worms (if I make them again) need additional gelatine to firm them up. Wider straws wouldn't hurt and I might take up wolfgirl569 's suggestion and cut the ends off the straws to make them shorter. One of the problems is that jelly, being liquid also fill the spaces between the straws as well as the void within, so a container that keeps the straws as tightly packed as possible is preferable. I would keep them in the container they come in, except the flexi bit needs to be straightened out. that bends them and they don't pack in as tightly as before.
Enjoy the photos from this morning.
I ended up sticking the remaining straws in a jug and heating it up with boiling water on the outside to melt the jelly. It was put into a bowl to set for later eating. No waste in this house.
Worms for school break
My granddaughter took the worms we managed to free into school for her break. She was looking forward to telling her friends that granny had given her worms to eat for break!
FOPP photo jellyworms halloween
Image Credit » (c) MegL my own photograph
Comments
wolfgirl569 wrote on October 15, 2015, 9:59 PM
The ones you got out look good. I used to have a recipe for firmer jello but dont seem to be finding it. I will look more for you to see if it helps. It was a jello brand thing if I remember right, you might be able to find it there if you get time before I do
MegL wrote on October 16, 2015, 2:52 AM
Gelatine is the original material used for making jellies. It is colourless and flavourless and was used a lot in Victorian times. You canstill buy it, so I will try some of that. As far as I know it is good protein too.
DWDavisRSL wrote on October 16, 2015, 9:01 AM
With a little more trial and error I think you will perfect your worm making skills. I'd love to see the look on your granddaughters' friends faces.
markgraham wrote on October 16, 2015, 11:06 AM
Maybe if you did use gelatine they would work better. They would look like gummy worms then. Halloween is getting closer so I hope the second try turns out.
VinceSummers wrote on October 17, 2015, 6:42 PM
Is it worth the trouble? I like jellied orange wedges with sugar crystals. Everyone needs his fruit, you know...
BarbRad wrote on October 18, 2015, 1:13 AM
It's always fun to see what kids will tell the other kids about their family members to shed a questionable light on them.
cheri wrote on October 18, 2015, 4:45 AM
I am not a good cook or anything of that sort so I always admire people who are really doing good on this