Did you know that the new year used to be celebrated on April 1st? If you think about spring and new growth, this makes sense. When the Christian world changed to the Gregorian calendar, the new year began on January 1, and then the fun began. Because the world lacked internet and global news distribution, some people weren’t aware of the change or refused to believe in the new calendar and continued to celebrate the New Year in April, thus earning the label of ‘April Fool‘ and setting off a worldwide phenomenon of practical joking.
One of the best practical jokes I ever played on my sister was entirely unplanned. I had found a long thin candle that I absent-mindedly broke into small sections leaving the wick intact. As we were lying in bed, ready to fall asleep, I suddenly lobbed it across the room towards her bed and yelled, “Snake!” When it landed on her bed she screamed and jumped up. What possessed me to do such a thing? Who knows. We’ve had some good laughs remembering that night, but I’ve tried to be a little more kind with my practical jokes since then. Here are a couple of ideas for some fun food pranks and one foolish dessert…
Jello ‘Juice’
1 pkg. lemon-flavored gelatin
1 drop red food coloring
Mix up gelatin according to package directions.
Pour into clear glasses, insert a straw and allow to set up in the refrigerator.
Frog eggs on ice cream
Basil seeds soaked in water form a gel sack around the dark seed
Ice Cream
Soak basil seeds in water and then serve over ice cream for a little extra ‘crunch’ w/o any noticeable taste difference
Strawberry Fool
Serves 8
2 pints strawberries
Puree
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
Stir into strawberries
2 cups heavy whipping cream
Whip cream
Fold cream w/ strawberries until ‘marbleized’ pour into bowl & chill well.
