Rani's Diary: Day 7

I've been asked many times, "What's a good sweet snack for those on Atkins?" Sugar-free Jell-O is the basis for one: sugar-free Gummi Worms! This is a fun project to make with your kids, too.

Sugar-free Jell-O is allowed on just about all diets, so this one isn't reserved for the low-carbers. Those on Atkins are allowed fats, so you can do a lot to add variety to sugar-free Jell-o. You can dissolve 1-2 oz of cream cheese in the hot gelatin, stir in some heavy cream or sour cream or cottage cheese before pouring it into cups. Or whip some cream with a packet of artificial sweetener for a luxurious topping. Lemon Jell-o with cream cheese has a cheesecake-y taste.

Sugar-free Gummi Worms

There are numerous recipes for making low-carb gummi worms, I find this the least complicated.

• 1 large package (0.6 oz, 8 servings) or 2 small (4 serving) packages of sugar-free Jell-o 3 envelopes unflavored gelatin (such as Knox) 1 cup boiling water
• Stir together all ingredients until completely dissolved. You might need to microwave it to get it all dissolved.
• Pour this mixture onto a dinner plate. Let sit for 20 minutes to set, then refrigerate for half an hour or more.
• Unpeel the gelatin disk from the plate. Roll it up jelly-roll fashion and slice into thin "snakes" with kitchen shears or slice with a sharp knife.
• Can also be made in candy-molds for fancier gummi shapes.
• For "sour gummi worms," add one packet of a complementary flavor of unsweetened kool-aid. For instance, add black cherry kool-aid to strawberry gelatin. Lime Jell-O with lemon kool-aid comes out an eerie day-glo color that just tickles my kids at Halloween.

-- Rani