KJL's TV Dinners: "Friends" Thanksgiving English Trifle

"So, no one told you life was gonna be this way." *CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP* 

Some of the best episodes of Friends are the holiday-themed episodes, particularly the Thanksgiving episodes. The episodes are responsible for some of the best scenes and one-liners from the entire hit 1990's sitcom. From the episode where the gang plays football together to the flashback episode where Monica chopped off Chandler's toe, the friends always had crazy adventures on Turkey Day. 

My favorite Thanksgiving episode happens to be "The One Where Ross Got High." Ross and Monica's parents are visiting for Thanksgiving, and Monica and Chandler have to decide how to tell her parents that they're not only dating each other, but they're already living together. Things get complicated when the Gellers confess that they don't like Chandler because they think he smoked pot in college (when it was, in fact, Ross who was smoking pot). The stressful evening leads to a stream of confessions from Ross and Monica, spewing secrets to their parents. 

The Friends Thanksgiving episode, "The One Where Ross Got High" (photo/Metro).

However, one of the best parts of the episode is when Rachel tries to make a traditional English trifle. She's not a baker. Monica is the professional chef in the group, but Rachel decided to help out this year and handle the dessert. Well, she accidentally combines two recipes--adding beef and peas from a shepherd's pie to the dessert. As Ross exclaims, "It tastes like feet!" 

Poor Rachel. She was so proud of her dessert, but I think Monica should make the Thanksgiving dessert from now on. 

Thanksgiving English Trifle 

Rachel's English trifle might have been a disaster, but it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, the dessert is delicious with a moist pound cake, raspberry jam, sweet vanilla pudding, coconut and chocolate (to represent Rachel's ground beef), and fresh raspberries. It's a fun dessert to make that everyone will enjoy. No one will think this tastes like feet! 

To make this dessert, you will need the following ingredients: 

• 1 c. heavy Cool Whip
• 2 c. instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
• 6 Tbsp. chocolate hazelnut spread (I used Nutella.) 
• 24 oz. pound cake, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/2 c. seedless raspberry jam
• 24 oz. fresh raspberries, washed and dried 

Prepare the instant vanilla pudding mix according to the package directions. Refrigerate the pudding while you continue to make the trifle. In a small mixing bowl, stir the shredded coconut and chocolate hazelnut spread to combine. Set aside. 

To assemble the trifle, place half of the pound cake cubes in a glass trifle dish or a large glass bowl. Spoon about half of the raspberry jam on top of the pound cake and spread using a spatula or butter knife. 

Spoon half of the vanilla pudding on top of the jam, then top with half of the coconut and chocolate-hazelnut mixture. Spoon half of the Cool Whip on top and top this layer with half of the fresh raspberries. 

Repeat these steps with the remaining ingredients, filling to the brim of the glass trifle dish or bowl. Let the trifle chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour and up to eight hours. Enjoy! You will always have a seat reserved for you at Thanksgiving dinner with the Friends gang if you serve this dessert. 

-KJL-