Yummy Gummy Jelly Shots

Hello Gelophiles,

Recently a friend told me that he liked to soak gummy bears in vodka for a fun treat. I tried it and the result was .....yuck! Yes, they packed a punch, but the texture was not my thing. They were mushy on the outside, and stringy on the inside. Now, I know that some people feel that way about gelatin but alcohol soaked gummies are much more aesthetically challenged. So here's my attempt to upgrade them into a tasty treat.

First I soaked gummy worms in a mixture of vodka and cachaca overnight.


Then I chopped the worms into small chunks with a knife and put them in an IKEA ice tray mold that makes worm-like ice cubes.


The gelatin was a combination of Sprite, Knox Gelatin, Vodka, Cachaca. I get the mixture in the fridge for two hours and removed them to create something gummy and gelatiny (not a real word....yet) and tasty.


A little fun with Photoshop care of Allison.

Don't Be Skittish About These Skittles Shots.

Hello fellow gelologists,

Happy New Year? For those in warmer climes, I hope you enjoyed champagne by the beach. For those of us in the cold, we had to content ourselves with ugly Christmas sweaters and gelatin shots.

Based on a suggestion from Allison in Connecticut, I made some Skittle liquor.

Skittles Liquor
Dissolve 8 Skittles pieces into 1/2 cup vodka and 1/2 cup peach schnapps in a glass container. Let sit for four hous. Strain using a coffee filter. The alcohol will have a brilliant color and nice tangy flavor.


From there, I made six different gelatin shots, one for each of the rainbow vodkas.

Red
3 oz box Strawberry Banana gelatin
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup of red Skittle liquor

Orange
3oz box of Orange gelatin
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup of orange Skittle liquor
2 Tbsp Triple Sec

Yellow
3oz box of lemon gelatin
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup of yellow Skittles liquor
2 Tbsp Limoncello

Green
3oz box of lime gelatin
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup of green Skittles liquor
2 Tbsp Southern Comfort

Blue
3oz box of berry blue gelatin
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup of blue Skittles liquor
2 Tbsp coconut rum

Purple
3oz box of grape gelatin
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup of purple Skittles liquor





Have a Happy January First!

These Shots Are on Fire! Sriracha Shotcha!

Hello Gelophiles,

Happy Almost New Year! I was hard at work on a special shot inspired by Dr. Hammer, the resident Jellyfishologist (a studier of all fish jelly).

If she were here right now, she'd want you to know that 1) Jellyfish are not fish, but Cnidarians, 2) When there are many fish of the same kind they are referred to as fish, however if there many different kinds of fish then they are indeed fishes, and 3) she'd also like to let you know she loves Sriracha, the sauce of her soul.

When we were in D.C. for a convention, she took me to an amazing hamburger joint called, Good Stuff Eatery. It was started up by Chef Spike, a past contestant on Top Chef. The menu had a variety of hamburger, fries, milkshakes, and best of all -flavored mayonnaises. This was a phenomenon that took hold fifteen years ago in Montreal, where fat and grease are welcome, but now Good Stuff is telling us in the U.S. to no longer condemn this condiment. (Incidently, the acidity in mayonnaise retards bacteria growth. Poor mayonnaise always getting the bad wrap at a pic-nic.)

Back to the gelatin shot, so Drs. Hammer, Borrelli, and I sat around the table and discussed the novel uses for Sriracha:

-Contact lens solution enhancer? No.
-Eye make-up remover? No.
-Jello shot flavor? Yes!

So here they are, two months later.........

Pineapple Coconut Sricracha Shotcha!



These shots are two layered:

Pineapple layer
Pineapple gelatin - 3oz box
coconut water- 1 cup
crushed pineapple (drained) - 1/4 cup
coconut rum - 1 cup
Knox gelatin - 1 envelope

Coconut layer
Coconut milk - 1/2 cup
Coconut water - 1/2 cup
Knox gelatin
Sriracha - to taste ( I added 1 teaspoon)

Sriracha and cilantro leaves for garnish.



These gelatin confections pack a punch. The sweet combined with the fire blends deliciously. However, you might need a traditional shot to quench the fire.

This batch was just the first of the many Sriracha explorations to come.

Enjoy!

Jelly bells, Jelly bells, it's Christmastime in my belly..

Hello Gelophiles,

Here are the shots I created last week for the holiday festivities. Unfortunately I only had my three year old iphone, so the photo isn't great. (Sorry Apple)



The red layer is sugar free Wild Strawberry gelatin and the green, sugar free lime. Sugar-free, just cuz. I used the back to porch as a freezer and man, did they jellify quick. It is imperative that the first layer not solidify too much or the second layer won't stick. Luckily, the layers adhered and the eaters of the shots were satisfied.

Not much else to report.... yet. But just you wait for tomorrow. I am unleashing a whole new gelatin shot that will knock your socks off. So you best put on some socks in anticipation. Keep tuned...

Fun for all that children call their favorite time of year....

Hello fellow gelologists,

Just cuz it's tis the season, I'm making some festive gelatin shots. Simple red and green bi-layers in a reeses cup. I'll get fancier soon enough.

Today marks the official start of gelatin season. Yes, I know many people think of summer, where picnics abound and cool and fruity jell-o refreshes the palette. But winter is really the time where mass quantities can be produced. What a better freezer than the great outdoors. I just put a tray of shots on the porch. (Don't worry they are covered in saran wrap) and they should be set in no time.

While I wait, it's time for some Christmas music! It's not appropriate to hear such tunes outside of the acceptable Christmas song season (Black Friday > Christmas music listening < January 2nd) That's how I mathematically equate the appropriate time. Right now The Waitresses are rocking out, then some good ol' Vince Guaraldi, followed by Ella. AND of course time to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special. It's full of incomprehensible jokes to a seven year old (I want restitution ?!?!), oddly sad and yet the most satisfying all the Christmas specials. In celebration, here is the always pleasing dance sequence.



Enjoy the first official day of Winter and I'll have some gelatin pics for you tomorrow.

Scooby Doo Mystery Shot

What could this be?


Wait for it..


Wait for it....



Boo Yeah!


Hello Gelophiles,

I wanted to create a gelatin shot that combined the Science and Engineering Festival I went to last weekend and Halloween. What could I do? What could I make?

I went to the local Blood Bath and Beyond and searched their kitchen department. Do stores like that even have departments anymore? I think I am dating myself. Anyway, I found these Halloween cookie cutters and loved the ghost shape.

Back at home, I thought about all the science booths that I saw in DC, and the one I loved the most was an interactive fly over Greenland and map glaciers. The aerial views of Greenland are spectacular and quickly disappearing.

Here is my attempt to honor the glacial views, haunting spirits, and alcoholic spirits.

Glacial Ghosts
Blue gelatin
Lime gelatin
Sweetened Condense milk
Knox gelatin
Svedka berry vodka
Peach Schnapps

I would have gotten away with these shots if it hadn't been for you meddling kids!

White House, Red House, Blue House

Hello Gelophiles.

I am in Washington D.C for a science education conference on the Mall. In honor of the visit to the Capital CIty, I pulled out the White House gelatin molds I made back in 2008. You can see the whole process of how they were created in that blog.

For today's shots, I just wanted to reflect the conflicted views my fellow Americans are having with the present political parties. Here are the White House shots, red and blue, so that you can lean toward your political views and then hopefully lean against something when you've had too many.




I refuse to make them in a tea flavor.