Pet Peeve - Part 5

OK, now for the fifth and final issue I have with the free Jello Shot recipe I found online. Once again, the recipe I am talking about is very typical of the free recipes found online:

IT IS DRINKABLE: Jello shots:

"INGREDIENTS
3 packages of Jello containing sugar
2 1/2 cups vodka
3 1/3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS
Bring the water to a boil and remove from heat. Slowly stir in the Jello until dissolved. Wait 3 minutes, then stir in the vodka. Pour into individual shot-size cups and freeze.

Via: http://jello-recipe.blogspot.com"

So today, my final issue with this recipe is - Why "freeze" them? This part really has me puzzled. I am guessing the writer really meant to say to chill them (as in the refrigerator), but many people would look at this and think they would need to freeze them.

As I write in my eBook, you can use your freezer for a few minutes (maybe 10-15) to accelerate the cooling process, but gelatin sets, it does not freeze, and freezing the water in your gelatin is going to ruin them. Either they will basically be fruity ice cubes when you serve them, or if you let them thaw before you serve them they will be grainy.

However, if you do freeze them - don't throw them out! Just pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds per shot, watch them closely, and just as soon as they liquefy bring them back out (they will still be below the boiling point of ethanol). Then put them in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours until they once again set properly.

I have a whole section in my eBook, "Making Gourmet Jello Shots," where I explain not only the science behind gelatin and why and how it sets, but also have numerous tips for how to get it to set more quickly. I have, in cases, gotten the setting time down to an hour and 45 minutes. While I do use the freezer, I never allow my Jello Shots to freeze while setting. You can freeze your Jello Shots after they have fully set - this allows you to keep them longer. Simply pop them in the fridge for a few hours before serving.

So that's the end of my pet peeves with this Jello Shot recipe. To recap, the problems I have found were:

• The recipe does not tell you what size of packages to use, and
  
• It tells you to wait to stir in the vodka when you don't need to, and
• It doesn't tell you how many servings it makes, so you don't know how many batches it will make, and
• It doesn't tell you how strong they will be (and these come out pretty strong), and
• It tells you to freeze the Jello Shots and you shouldn't.
  

Hey, it's a free recipe, but you get what you pay for. That is the basic reason why I wrote my eBook - because there is a lot more information available - that you might not even know you are missing - if you look for it.

Judd
www.MakingJelloShots.com

Pet Peeve - Part 4

On to the fourth of FIVE issues I have with the Jello Shot recipe I found online. The first was what size of packages to use, and the second was why wait to stir in the vodka, and the third was that the recipe didn't tell you how much it makes, so you don't know how many batches you need.

To refresh your memory, the recipe I found (which is not atypical of those found online) is:

IT IS DRINKABLE: Jello shots:

"INGREDIENTS
3 packages of Jello containing sugar
2 1/2 cups vodka
3 1/3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS
Bring the water to a boil and remove from heat. Slowly stir in the Jello until dissolved. Wait 3 minutes, then stir in the vodka. Pour into individual shot-size cups and freeze.

Via: http://jello-recipe.blogspot.com"

The fourth issue, and the one I want to discuss today, is - How strong are these Vodka Jello Shots? Again, maybe you aren't worried about this, but hey, I would think you might want to make your Bachelor Party Jello Shots really strong while you might want to make, say, wedding reception Jello Shots more weak.

So, with this recipe As it turns out, if you used 80-proof vodka, this recipe makes shots which include the equivalent of .779 ounces of 80-proof alcohol per 2 oz. serving, or around 15.6% ABV. That is actually rather strong for a Jello Shot, and some people won't like that intensity. I personally prefer formulations yielding about 1/3 of an ounce of 80-proof alcohol per shot, or about half the intensity of this recipe.

In my eBook, "Making Gourmet Jello Shots," not only do I give you Weak, Average, and Strong versions of each recipe, but I also spell out precisely how much alcohol will be in each shot, allowing for evaporation and such. This is the basis of my 80-proof APSTM (Alcohol Per Serving) calculation. I also teach you how to calculate it yourself, should you make substitutions and such, and I teach you how to find out exactly how much alchohol, should you want to push the limit, you can put into any given alcoholic Jello Shot recipe without 'breaking' it.

It's nice to know people like to put up free Jello Shot recipes - hey, that's where I got started. But it's also good to know that there is a lot more information available - that you might not even know you are missing - if you look for it.

Judd
www.MakingJelloShots.com

Pet Peeve - Part 3

So to continue: I found the following Jello Shot recipe online, and I have FIVE different issues to pick with this recipe. The first was what size of packages to use, and the second was why wait to stir in the vodka.

The recipe I had found was:

IT IS DRINKABLE: Jello shots:

"INGREDIENTS
3 packages of Jello containing sugar
2 1/2 cups vodka
3 1/3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS
Bring the water to a boil and remove from heat. Slowly stir in the Jello until dissolved. Wait 3 minutes, then stir in the vodka. Pour into individual shot-size cups and freeze.

Via: http://jello-recipe.blogspot.com"

The third issue isn't that big of deal I guess, but I am just used to always providing this information in my eBook. That issue is - how many will it make? Maybe you aren't worried about this, but hey, I would think you might want to know if you need to make a double batch or not.

I include servings made with every recipe in my my eBook, "Making Gourmet Jello Shots." According to my calculations, this recipe will make roughly 25 to 26 2-oz. servings. It would have been nice to know that, I think.

Judd
www.MakingJelloShots.com

Pet Peeve - Part 2

OK, so what else bothered me about that Jello Shots recipe? Let's look at it again:

IT IS DRINKABLE: Jello shots:

"INGREDIENTS
3 packages of Jello containing sugar
2 1/2 cups vodka
3 1/3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS
Bring the water to a boil and remove from heat. Slowly stir in the Jello until dissolved. Wait 3 minutes, then stir in the vodka. Pour into individual shot-size cups and freeze.

Via: http://jello-recipe.blogspot.com"

I told you I had FIVE different issues to pick with this recipe. I'll discuss the second one today.

Why do you have to wait to stir in the vodka? My guess is, the author probably was trying to keep the alcohol from evaporating.

However, as I point out in my eBook, if you take two minutes to stir in the gelatin (my recommended time), then by the time you are done stirring the gelatin into the boiled water the hot water-gelatin will have cooled off substantially, to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 38 degrees Celsius. This is well below the boiling point of ethanol - 173 degrees Fahrenheit, or 78.6 degrees Celsius - so little to no alcohol will be lost due to the heat of the solution.

So, you don't really need to wait. But, even I would normally split the water in this recipe and boil only half of it, keep the other half cold, and add the cold water along with the alcohol. This is a common practice in my eBook, "Making Gourmet Jello Shots."

I'll get to my next pet peeve regarding this recipe tomorrow.

Judd
www.MakingJelloShots.com

Pet Peeve - Part 1

OK, this blog post I saw today illustrates a few of my pet peeves about the Jello Shot recipes you might find online - the recipe that looks simple but isn't necessarily and, in fact, will likely ruin your Jello Shots.

This is for a classic vodka Jello Shot.

IT IS DRINKABLE: Jello shots:

"INGREDIENTS
3 packages of Jello containing sugar
2 1/2 cups vodka
3 1/3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS
Bring the water to a boil and remove from heat. Slowly stir in the Jello until dissolved. Wait 3 minutes, then stir in the vodka. Pour into individual shot-size cups and freeze.

Via: http://jello-recipe.blogspot.com"

Off the top of my head, I find FIVE different issues to pick with this Jello Shot recipe. I'll start with the first one today.

My first question to you is - what size of "Jello Packages" do you need? In my area, gelatin most commonly comes in 6 oz. packages, but it also is quite common in 3 oz. packages. In this case, since the recipe calls for roughly 6 cups of fluid, the answer would be 3 oz. packages.

While you could use 6 oz. packages - and there is just enough hot water in this recipe to dissolve that much - you will be wasting money and may find your shots to be too hard. You would know this if you read my eBook, "Making Gourmet Jello Shots."

I'll get to the next issue tomorrow.

Judd
www.MakingJelloShots.com

Never cry over spilled guts: Musical Monday vol 3.

Never cry over spilled guts: Musical Monday vol 3.: "Then Sunday afternoon me, Dave & Pearl went out to Kyle & his girlfriend Amanda's place for Thanksgiving #3. Delicious food, numerous jello shots, and I got to drink mead for the first time!"

I've mentioned it before - Jello Shots are starting to show up at more and more functions! Making Jello Shots is coming in handy, and how much more traditional an event than at Thanksgiving? In fact, I brought a bunch of Jello Shots to my own Thanksgiving dinner!

If you are looking for something interesting and new to do, consider making gourmet Jello Shots for your next event!

Wedding Soiree

Wedding Soiree: "2009 TRENDS

Every year for the past three years we have posted what we feel are the most stylish trends. Here are our top picks for 2009:

Colors: Merlot, Eggplant, Grape and Platinum
Dinner Plates: Pick any color except white or beige
Food Options: Tapas, Dim Sums, Jello Shots, Sushi Bar
Style Trend: Custom Silhouettes invitations, Silhouette Artist"

If you are a party planner or caterer, there is no better time to get in on this trend. Expect to see Jello Shots at more bridesmaid and wedding parties. If you want to stand out from the others, you should learn how to make gourmet Jello Shots as well as learn the fundamentals of Jello Shots so that you can design your own for your own unique purposes!

In fact, I even have a Wedding Cake Jello Shots recipe in my eBook, just for you!

What is Irish Cream?

What is Irish Cream?: "Irish Cream is a mixture of whiskey, cream, and sugar. It is sold pre-blended and nearly always uses Irish whiskey as its base. Irish cream is also a flavor for a number of other sweets, such as ice cream. Baileys Irish cream is by far the most popular brand on the market.

Irish cream began its rise to popularity in the 1970s with its official creation by R.J. Bailey & Company in Ireland. The drink was formulated to appeal to a wide range of drinkers, particularly an American audience. Most Irish cream smells of hazelnuts or sweet almonds, and it is very sweet to taste. By 2003, Baileys Irish cream had become the top selling liqueur worldwide, and its popularity has only continued to increase. In the same year, the company released a less-alcoholic version of Irish cream called Baileys Glide, which can be enjoyed as a much more casual drink and is sold prepackaged in small bottles.

Because of the presence of dairy, Irish cream will curdle and coagulate when combined with any sort of acid. In fact, there was for some time a persistent legend that drinking an Irish cream with tonic water could kill you. This is of course patently false, but there are many who still believe it.

Though not deadly, the coagulating effect of Irish cream and an acid makes it ideal for a number of prank drinks, most famously the Cement Mixer. A Cement Mixer consists of giving a victim a shot of lemon juice or some other highly-acid juice to hold in their mouth, then giving them a shot of Irish cream to drink them down together. When the Irish cream meets the acid, it forms a thick substance in the mouth that is difficult to swallow.

Many people also make their own Irish cream by starting with a good Irish whiskey, placing it on a double-boiler, mixing in flavoring such as chocolate, adding sweet-and-condensed milk, and then stirring in a large amount of cream and coffee flavoring if desired. Once made, the concoction is bottled and refrigerated for a few weeks, at which point it is ready to enjoy."

Keep in mind that this can happen with any cream liqueur, as they contain dairy. It can also happen in any Jello Shot where milk or dairy is used - rare, but it happens. It happens in the Dreamsicle Jello Shots, but only to a very small and actually beneficial degree. But when a sufficient cream component reacts with sufficient acid, the curdling can become quite prominent and is, in my opinion, quite unpleasant.

Quite a few of the Jello Shots in my Second Edition of "Making Gourmet Jello Shots" - due out in December - have Irish Cream in them, and I have come up with two ways of overcoming this curdling effect. One is to blend the mixture once curdled, then let it settle out - the shot will have a foamy, creamy surface due to the blending which, because it has gelatinous, is kind of an odd texture, but some people like it. The other is to separate the Irish Cream from the rest of the shot, and to put it as a separate layer on the top of the shot. I provide you with both methods in all applicable recipes so that you can decide which one you want to do.

Creepy Movie Night

Last night I went to a "Creepy Movie Night" at my friend Francesca's. We watched "The Fearless Vampire Killers" and "Interview with a Vampire".

I brought a sampling of my Gourmet Jello Shots, off the top of my head there were:

• Caribbean Jello Shots
• Caribbean Blue Jello Shots
• French Kiss Jello Shots
• Irish Whiskey Sour Jello Shots
• Grand Lemon Drop Jello Shots
• Jelly Colada Jello Shots
• Fuzzy Naval Jello Shots
• Cherry Cola Jello Shots
• Chocolate-Covered Cherry Jello Shots
• Classic Vodka Jello Shots
• Coconut Cream Lime Pie Jello Shots
• Greyhound Jello Shots
  

I also took a bottle of my homemade Lime Cream Liqueur. I took some 90 Jello Shots and between six of us I figure we polished off about half - Francesca is keeping the spares for another party next weekend as I have a fridge full still!

Jello Shots as a 'bonding tool'!

Jello Shots as a 'bonding tool'!

Redneck Mother: What happens at camp mostly stays at camp: "Bound by the rules of discretion and a sisterhood cemented over gourmet Jello shots, I have but a few things to report upon my return from belly-dance camp in the Hill Country."

You too could improve your life and make new friends by making Jello Shots!

Judd

How to Jiggle with Jello Shots Video – 5min.com

Found this fun and actually relatively accurate video especially for men wanting to make Jello Shots.

How to Jiggle with Jello Shots Video – 5min.com:

"How to Jiggle with Jello Shots"

Write me and tell me if you catch the "mistake" she made!

Goddess Jennifer -

Goddess Jennifer -: "I just finished getting ready, We're having friends over tonight for some beer pong, And I've made about 100 jello shots :D

Don't I just look STUNNING?"


Thanks for making Jello Shots for your party, Jennifer!

The Sandbar...Home of the Indoor Hurricane!: Jello-Fish

The Sandbar...Home of the Indoor Hurricane!: Jello-Fish: "Jello-Fish

Recently, Dave was inspired by our good friend John (from The Hawk) to try something new- jello shots. John had whipped up a batch of them for a day on the lake, and after he explained to Dave just how easy they were to make (and that they could be created at the bar and not in our kitchen), Dave was sold.

Labor Day weekend was a test run for this new idea. We bought massive quantities of jello at Dillon's and experimented with different flavors of jello and liquor. We made enough for a birthday party, the football game tailgate, a pool party, and a lake party- and they were a hit at each event.

Dave found perfectly sized plastic cups, with lids, and made his first batch at the bar last night. I like to think these might have cheered up the crowd a little bit after the shocking last minute loss in the KU football game. We even have whipped cream to add on top. Stop by some night to check out our new jello-fish shots and let us know your favorite flavors."

Just goes to show you how easy and fun Jello Shots are! And see how easily they prettied them up with a little whipped cream. These guys didn't even have my eBook - or they could have saved a lot of time experimenting. However, the experimentation *is* fun...

trees_are_evil: Are you a smoke​r or a drink​er?​drinker

I found this rather interesting self-quiz online. I was drawn to it because the person who'd completed the quiz had answered "What is your favorite beverage?" with: "Jello Shots, but I'll pretty much drink anything."

trees_are_evil:

"Are you a smoke​r or a drink​er?​

What was the last thing​ that made you upset​?​

Can you count​ to 23958​?​

What is your favorite alcoholic beverage?​

Do you use the ladies or the gents​?​

How old will you be in 11 years​?​

Your last text message is from?​

Do you cry whilst cutting onions?​

Who'​s home did you go to last ?

Do you know anyone who dropped out of school early​?​

Do you dye your hair?​

If given​ the chance,​ would​ you shoot​ your worst​ enemy​ dead?​

What are you wearing on your feet?​

Was your last new years​ night​ enjoyable?​

Have you ever eaten​ dog food?​

Beach​ or Mountains?​

Do you dance​ when your intoxicated?​

What'​s the current screensaver on your mobile phone​?​

How many pillows do you sleep​ with?​

When was the last time you had a back massage?​

As of now are you missing somebody?​

Who of your top friends have you slept​ in the same bed with?​

Do you miss the way things used to be?

Would​ you ever live with any one of your top friends?​

What did you do today​?​

How long was your last phone​ call?​

Do you listen to your friends' advice when they give it to you?

Is it hard for you to get a hold of alcohol?​

Did you sing at all today​?​

Name five peopl​e you'​ve talke​d to today​?​

Is anything wrong​ with your eyes?​

Do you ever write​ notes​ on your hand?​

Do you know anyone with the same middle name as you?"

You're not going to learn if you are an INTJ via this quiz, but just pondering the questions can give you insight...

September Newsletter!

Hi all, I just published my September "Gourmet Jello Shots" Newsletter!

You can check it out at the archives: http://community.icontact.com/p/wedoit/newsletters/makingjelloshots/posts/your-gourmet-jello-shots-newsletter-is-here

Let me know what you think!

UT Austin - University of Texas Austin OTR: "Trysexuality": Is It the Real Deal?

UT Austin - University of Texas Austin OTR: "Trysexuality": Is It the Real Deal?: "Oh, how we cherish the days when promiscuity isn't (entirely) frowned upon. Waking up in a stranger's bedroom, collecting our articles of clothing, one after the other, as we try to remember last night after the four Everclear jello shots. The age-old story about the girl swept off her lovely drunk feet in a rush of college lust and passion...right?"

The above is sort of tongue-in-cheek, but it does point out an interesting trend in our society, that we are incrementally tossing away moral taboos and these days the "walk of shame" isn't quite as shameful as it was. Whether it was due to the "four Everclear jello shots" or simply a desire to live more by our own rules and less by others, I think the ship is definitely steering toward more open-attitude waters.

What do you think?

The Botched Cronicles - Yum score sheet.

The Botched Cronicles - Yum score sheet.:

"63. Vodka jelly/Jell-O shot
Yes. There are bars which sells “shots” in syringes. SICK."

Hmmm. I really couldn't disagree more - maybe they weren't Jello Shots? Or maybe he just has bad aim! What do you think?

Very Good Taste » blog » The Omnivore’s Hundred

So I have been seeing something called "The Omnivore's 100" on people's blogs out there, and hunted down the original link, a UK foodie.

Very Good Taste » blog » The Omnivore’s Hundred: "The Omnivore’s Hundred

Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers."

The reason why this keeps catching my eye is item # 38 on the list:

"38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O" - a.k.a., Jello Shots!

So I am not the only person who thinks Jello Shots are cool!

I recommend you go to www.verygoodtaste.co.uk and get your own copy of the list - and by all means, check me out when it comes to the Jello Shots! I have ticklers out there for people who have had interesting experience with Jello Shots, we should be seeing a few of those in upcoming blog posts. :)

Finally 40 « Enter The Circle

Consider Jello Shots for a 40th Birthday Party:

Finally 40 « Enter The Circle: "It was a lot of fun. The weather was amazing. The food was delicious. The decorations were out of control. The bar was stocked for lots of fun drinks. There were jello shots. You’ve got to love a party with jello shots!"

The possibilities are endless...

Laughing Orca Ranch: Too much Jello

Laughing Orca Ranch: Too much Jello: "So, what is my neighbor friend, Val, smiling so happily about?Yep. It's what you think they are. Jello Shots! These two are margarita and pina colada flavored. Val had a Fuzzy Navel Jello shot, too. The lady who made them had to keep them in safe-keeping and handed them out to the adults because the shots look so yummy and fun. The kids would have been trying to eat them by the handful. gah! Oddly enough, this was my first Jello shot experience. My first impression was how weird they were in taste and texture. There really wasn't much taste. It was all about the alcohol. I'm not much of a drinker: an occasional glass of wine with dinner, a margarita with friends. So, these Jello shots hit me pretty good, and I only had TWO! haha. I'm such a light-weight!"

"It was all about the alcohol." Now these guys know how to have a party! A few different types of Jello Shots, although I'd have recommended using the 2-oz. souffle cups rather than the 1-oz. shot cups. But that's just a choice of how to make Jello Shots. Two of my favorites are the Margarita Jello Shot and the Fuzzy Navel Jello Shot - the latter tastes like orange-peach candy and really doesn't have all that much alcohol in it, so you can enjoy them more.

Check out their blog - there is an awesome fruit display for their party.

Judd

"Jello shots are of the devil."

missaudreyhorne: Stuff.: "C. Jello shots are of the devil."

LOL I love comments like this - clearly other people love Jello Shots as much as I do!

Have you ever gotten this feeling?

How do you make Jello Shots??? - Yahoo! Answers

How do you make Jello Shots??? - Yahoo! Answers: "How do you make Jello Shots???
My friends and I r having a party tomorrow... and we want to make Jello shots.... but we have a few questions first... like...

First of all how do u make them??
Wat other alcohol can be used besides Vodka?
Wat wud be the best flavor to use?

and i want to know this from personal expirence not jus a reciepe u got online.. but a recipe wud help but i also want to know from personal exprirence.."

From the glut of answers - some of which work, others I could see resulting in horrible experiences - this poor gal/guy is lucky to have someone like us looking out for them.

Amazing how many people claim to know how to make jello shots when their recipes are garbage.

I gave them a fool-proof vodka jello shot recipe, recommended rum jello shots for some other flavors, and tossed them a simple lemon-drop jello shot recipe. Let's hope they have a great party!

Judd

Jello Shooters are Making a Splash at High-End Parties: GoArticles.com

Jello Shooters are Making a Splash at High-End Parties: GoArticles.com: "Jello Shooters (a.k.a., Jello Shots, Jelly Shots, and Gels) are fantastic fun at parties and get-togethers of all types, and it is very, very simple to learn how to make Jello Shooters, even really fancy ones with exotic names and flavors.

And the really interesting thing is, they are becoming more and more popular at high-end parties like weddings, anniversaries, and dinner parties."

The key here is to make multiple types of Jello Shooters, which causes your guests to slow down their consumption and experience the varieties you have made.

Comment to let me know what sort of Jello Shooter themes you might come up with for:
- A graduation
- A wedding
- A specific holiday
- Other event

Judd Hall
www.MakingJelloShots.com

Jello Shooters based on Crazy Ninja recipe?

Crazy Ninja recipe:
"Crazy Ninja recipe (rating 8.1, 13 votes)

Serve in Highball Glass
Alcohol 10%

2 oz Jim Beam® bourbon whiskey
6 oz Sierra Mist® soda

Pour the Jim Beam Bourbon whiskey into a highball glass. Add the Sierra Mist and a couple of ice cubes, and serve."

I just love the name of this - somehow it evokes images in my mind of ninjas crawling up the outside of Chuck Norris' hotel in "The Octagon". You'd have to be one crazy ninja to do that!

I'm going to make a Jello Shooter recipe based on this drink!

Judd Hall
www.MakingJelloShots.com

Jello Shots or Shellow Pots?

Hi, my name is Judd, and I love making Jello Shots.

[group murmurs "Hi Judd"]

A couple weekends ago I took a bunch of Jello Shots to my friend's (who shall remain unnamed for reasons that shall soon be evident) birthday party. Man, I think I had about two dozen different types.

Anyway, she was getting on a plane to "Bawstawn" in the morning and had sworn to "get lit" (her words, not mine) that night.

I think she accomplished her task!

I got a real kick out of her as the night went on and she started slurring her words. At one point she came out with how I had made all these "Shellow Pots" for her!

What I took away from that: If you are going to Shellow Pot, please Shellow responsibly.

I'd love to hear your Jello Shots stories!

Judd Hall
www.MakingJelloShots.com