Lemon Gelatin Parfaits - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 3/4 cups cold water, divided
3 (1/4 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups sugar, plus
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 9 lemons)
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
yellow food coloring (optional)
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 sprig of fresh mint (to garnish) (optional)
lemon zest, curls (to garnish) (optional)
lemon slice (to garnish) (optional)

Preparation

Put 1/2 cup of the water in a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over it and stir. Let soften for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine the remaining 3 1/4 cups of water, 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, the lemon juice and the lemon zest and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the softened gelatin, stirring for 1 minute or more to dissolve all lumps. Stir in a few drops of food coloring, if desired.
Pour into a heat-safe medium-size bowl, let cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (at least 6 hours).
Just before serving, whip the cream with the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, until it holds stiff peaks.
Fill goblets or sundae glasses halfway with gelatin, top with half of the whipped cream, then fill with more gelatin and top with remaining whipped cream. Garnish with mint sprigs, lemon zest curls or slices and serve.