Mold of the Year

An unexpected spinoff of the protracted O.J. Simpson trial was the Eat-A-Ito: a plastic gelatin mold shaped like the face of Superior Court Judge Lance Ito. The manufacturer (a small family operation that specializes in Halloween gross-out molds shaped like human hearts and brains) took it off the market in September, but those who were lucky enough to obtain an Eat-A-Ito were able to produce a strikingly lifelike gelatin image of the distinguished judge.

As the trial fades into memory, the mold itself is destined to be regarded as weird and embarrassing, then collectible. Meanwhile, there are two enduring revelations from the experience:

* You can produce gelatin of a remarkably credible skin color by dissolving three 6-ounce boxes of peach gelatin in four cups of boiling water, then adding a cup of cold water, a 12-ounce can of 99.5% fat-free evaporated milk and three or four drops of green food coloring.

* It doesn’t taste half bad.