Tropical Gelatin

This fun dessert is a special treat on a hot summer day.

INGREDIENTS | SERVES 6

1 cup chopped fresh papaya

1 cup chopped fresh guava

1 cup chopped fresh pineapple

12 lady fingers

2 cups water

3 packages unsweetened gelatin

1⁄2 cup granulated sugar

  1. Mix the pineapple, papaya, and guava together in a small mixing bowl. (Do not drain the juice from the fruit.)
  2. Break the lady fingers into 1" pieces and line the bottom of 6 individual custard bowls with the pieces.
  3. Bring the water to a boil in a medium-sized pot. Add the gelatin and sugar; stir until both are dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the fruit. Let cool at room temperature until it begins to thicken.
  4. Pour the mixture over the lady fingers. Cool in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.

Finding a Fresh Pineapple

Fresh, ripe pineapples have a distinctly yellow hue to their rind and smell only mildly sweet, while those beyond their freshness will have an almost sickly sweet smell and may even be oozing juice. A green pineapple will be just that—its rind will show very little deep yellow color.