Are you tired of Jello for dessert? Make something special tonight. The ingredient that makes Jello and store-bought puddings thicken is the same ingredient that makes seaweed pudding gel. It's called carrageenin. Look for it in the listing of ingredients in puddings, toothpaste, and frozen desserts. This recipe uses Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), a dark red algae that bleaches to white in the sun. It grows to about 4 inches long with short branches. It can be bought dried at health food stores.
Soak Irish moss in water for a few minutes. Clean and drain in a colander. In a double boiler, cook milk and Irish moss for 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Add salt and sugar. Cool 5 to 10 minutes more. Strain out seaweed. Add vanilla. Chill.
Waves are important to tidepool animals. They bring food and oxygen and carry away wastes. Waves, especially winter waves, can also be dangerous to anyone who doesn't have a firm grip on the tidepool. Ask a parent to help you make your own wave tank:
Fill bottle 2/3 full of water. Add food coloring. Fill rest of bottle to top with oil. screw on top tightly. Turn bottle on side and rock gently back and forth to create slow motion waves.
Can't see below the sea? Make this to take on your next tidepool expedition, It's perfect for looking into the deeper parts of the tidepools that are always submerged.
You'll need:
How to make: Wrap a large piece of plastic wrap around bottom of can or carton. Secure with rubber band or tape. Place covered end underwater to view what's hidden beneath the surface. If your plastic wrap tears while you're at the shore, don't leave it there because...