Sherry Trifle

Making sherry trifle can be just as much fun as eating it. The resulting dessert is an art form, if you don't get sloshed on the sherry and wind up curled in the corner of the kitchen singing "Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea." You can use a variety of different fruits and jellos according to your taste, but a couple of the ingredients must be exactly as outlined below or you will produce a soggy mess.

Container:

• a good glass trifle bowl

Ingredients:

• any type of sponge cake or lady fingers; jam roll works well
• sherry -- not too sweet. A good amontillado works. (You can leave the sherry out, of course, if you like)
• two packets of jello in a flavor that will complement the fruits you are using
• enough fruit to add a layer in the bowl; fruits that work well are fresh or frozen berries -- blackberries look good, mix in a few raspberries and blueberries to taste
• custard. If you are adept at sauces, make your own either from scratch or from a powder mix; otherwise stick to a can of ready-made custard. I get mine from an import store -- it's expensive, but worth it
• whipped cream or the kind of cream topping you can buy frozen

The glass trifle bowl is what makes this dessert such an eye-catcher. You can pick one up at a discount store for a few dollars; they're not expensive. And if you're really trying to impress, some manufacturers also make smaller trifle dishes for individual portions.

• Slice the sponge cake and arrange as neatly as possible at the bottom of the bowl. Arranging slices upright around the edge can look good; lady fingers work well here, too. My mum always uses jam roll, a thin sponge cake spread with (you guessed it) jam and then (yes, it's a technical wonder) rolled into a cylinder. You can buy one if that strikes your fancy. I've discovered that lady fingers work just as well.
• slosh sherry liberally over the cake (or not)
• arrange the berries on top
• pour on the warm jello
• cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for a few hours
• once the jello is set, add a layer of custard
• top with a thin layer of whipped cream or cream topping
• decorate with a sprig of mint or leave as is -- it's the side view that counts

Avoid doing what Jennifer Anniston's character did in Friends when she turned two pages instead of one in her recipe book and added a layer of ground meat and vegetables. . .