Friday, August 26, 2011

Fire Breathing Dragons . . .


It's a little bit Spicy, it's a little bit Sweet . . . its Marie Osmond a Fire Breathing Dragon Jelly Shot!

Hello at long last.  I hope you all aren't too cross with me for lack of posting - have missed all of you terribly.  I was hoping to pin my lack of posting on Intern Doug and his maniacal-ly chaotic ways, but that would be wrong, wouldn't it?  Isn't that how things go in Corporate America?  Praise moves up the chain, and blame goes down?  Or do I have that wrong.  Oh well.


To depart for a moment from my limited grasp of corporate lore and vernacular (as well as my inappropriate, incorrect and unforgivable blame-shifting to staff), I thought I would share a little Miami-glam gem whipped up for the Miami New Times (click here for the full article).  Its a little bit sweet, and little bit SPICY - just like Intern Doug.  (Just kidding Doug!  We all know that you are a very dedicated and talented gelatin professional, and I for one greatly enjoyed your solo posts - the recipes and photos were divine!)  

Hope you all enjoy the Fire Breathing Dragon!  I am thinking that one could use jalapeno vodka in this recipe, and omit infusing with fresh jalapeno, however weighing the cost of a pepper versus a bottle (not to mention the shelf space) infusing seemed the way to go.

Cheers and XOXOXOX,

Michelle

P.S.  Cake Month I promised, and Cake Month you shall have.  New recipes to follow next week!  XO.


Fire Breathing Dragon (inspired by the Doraku restaurant cocktail in South Beach, FL)
The recipe below uses a standard non-reactive glass or metal loaf pan (about 4" x 8").  Click here (under Ensuring a Good Impression) for instructions on silicone molds!
  • 2/3 cup mango vodka
  • 1/8 inch thick slice of fresh jalapeno pepper (with seeds)
  • 2/3 cup mango juice blend (used Ceres)
  • 2 envelopes plain gelatin
  • 2/3 cup peach schnapps

In a mixing glass, lightly muddle the jalapeno with the vodka.  Set aside.

Pour the mango juice into a saucepan and sprinkle with the gelatin.  Allow to soak for a minute or two.  Heat on low, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is dissolved (about 5 minutes).  Remove from heat.

Strain the vodka through thoroughly to remove any seeds, and add to the gelatin mixture with the schnapps.  Stir well. 

Pour into loaf pan or molds.  Refrigerate until fully set (several hours or overnight).  To serve, cut into desired shapes (or unmold).  Pin an orchid behind your ear and enjoy a jelly shot!
  
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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Rock Candy Jelly Shooters


What this fine country needs is more rock candy and jelly shots .... 
a big rock candy jelly shot mountain!

Happy [belated] July 4th! Without further audieu, a few shout outs. First, thanks to the ever divine Baker Royale for her adorable and highly inspirational Midori Sour Rock Candy Jelly Shots. Secondly, a shout out to Tablespoon.com, where this recipe first appeared!

Hope you enjoy!

XO Michelle


Rock Candy Jelly Shooters

Ingredients:
  • 1 3 oz box strawberry gelatin dessert
  • 1 3 oz box berry blue gelatin dessert
  • 3 cups water
  • 6 envelopes plain gelatin (I used Knox, each envelope contains about 2 tsp gelatin powder)
  • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 1/2 cups ice cold fruit-flavored vodka or rum (use your favorite)

You’ll need: lollipop sticks, 4 loaf pans, 3 heat-safe bowls, cooking spray, a sharp knife

Grab 3 heat-safe bowls. Pour each of the gelatin dessert mixes into two of the bowls and set aside.

Pour the water into a medium saucepan. Sprinkle with the 6 envelopes of plain gelatin. Allow to soak for a minute or two.

Heat over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is fully dissolved (about 5 minutes).

Pour one cup of the plain gelatin mixture into the bowl containing the strawberry gelatin mix. Stir for two minutes, or until the red gelatin is dissolved. Repeat process with the blue gelatin. Add one cup of the vodka or rum to each bowl, stir well, and set aside.

Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the saucepan containing the rest of the clear gelatin mixture. Add 
1/2 cup of the vodka or rum and stir well to combine.

Lightly spray 4 1 lb loaf pans (about 8" x 5") with cooking spray. Wipe out with a paper towel.

Pour 3/4 cup of the red gelatin mixture into one of the prepared loaf pans. Repeat with 3/4 cup of the blue gelatin mixture. Divide the white gelatin between the remaining two pans. Place all the pans in refrigerator until the gelatin is set (at least an hour).

Cover the remaining liquid gelatins (to keep them warm and pliable) and set aside.

When the pans of gelatin have set, dice the gelatin into small cubes. (You can cut the gelatin right in the pan).

Mix the diced gelatin and divide as desired between two of the loaf pans. (I had two pans that were predominantly blue, and two that were predominantly red cubes.)

Grab the liquid gelatin (if it is starting to set up, microwave for 10 to 15 seconds - just long enough to make it liquid again, but not hot). Pour the liquid gelatin, red in one pan, and blue in the other, to fill about 3/4 of the way up the gelatin cubes. (You may have a little gelatin left over.) Return pans to refrigerator and allow to set for several hours or overnight.

Remove pans from the fridge. Cut around the edges of the pan, and invert the gelatin slabs onto a non-stick surface for cutting.

Cut the gelatin into 3/4 to 1" zig-zaggy strips, wiggling your knife to give an uneven edge (like rock candy). If you cut the strips too thin, they will break when skewered.

Skewer each strip with a lollipop stick - hold the gelatin gently at the sides, and insert the stick almost all the way to the top. Place on a non-stick cookie sheet and chill until ready to serve!
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Monday, August 1, 2011

Birthday Cupcake Jelly Shot


Birthday Cupcake Jelly Shot, anyone?  Make a wish!!!  
Oh, wait . . . no candles.  Sorry!  They melt the jelly shots.  Cancel that. . . 

And, well, it IS my birthday . . . ahem . . .later this week.  Because of this, as well as the release of UV Vodka's "white cake" flavor, I am declaring August as "Cake Month" at JSTK.
So, to be clear, the "Cake" designation is not solely due to my personal high maintenance issues and ongoing quest to turn my birthday into a double-fortnight holiday - it also happens to coincide with product release.  So, clearly, it is due to circumstance AS WELL AS vanity.  So much better!

Our first cake concoction is patterned after the Birthday Cake Cocktail, topped with whipped cream and a bazillion (or three - flowers, rods and tiny cirles) types of sprinkles to make a tiny bite-sized cupcake of a jelly shot.  "Why so many sprinkles," one might ask.  "Did the Sprinkle Factory blow up inside the Test Kitchen?"  In addition to the inevitable birthday adrenaline, it was admittedly my first time out with a pastry bag and tip.  The results weren't pretty.  Or, for that matter, ever remotely symmetrical.  The rainbow magic of several types/layers of multi-colored sprinkles both distracts the eye and tames the wily whip to somewhat more visually pleasing proportions.

And there you have it!  The Birthday Cupcake Jelly Shot!  Hope you enjoy!

XO Michelle



Birthday Cupcake Jelly Shots

Recommended Pan:  Peanut Butter Cup flexible silicon mold (click here to buy the mold on Amazon)

Ingredients:
  • 2/3 cup canned pineapple juice (fresh won’t gel!)
  • 2/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail
  • 1 tbsp heavy cream
  • 2-3 envelopes plain gelatin (your call, but use 3 if the jelly shots will be sitting out for a while, at your birthday party)
  • 2/3 cup white cake flavored vodka
  • Whipped cream and multi-colored sprinkles, for garnish, if desired

Prepare the silicone mold.  Lightly spray mold with non stick cooking spray.  Wipe off the excess spray with a paper towel.  A slight residue should remain, just enough to help unmold the gelatin, without affecting the taste or appearance.

Pour the juices and cream into a saucepan and sprinkle with gelatin.  Allow to soak for a few minutes.  Heat on low, stirring constantly, until gelatin is fully dissolved (about 5 minutes).  Remove from heat. 

Stir in the vodka.  Pour into the molds, and chill until set, several hours or overnight.

To serve, unmold the jelly shots.  Pipe on whipped topping with a pastry bag.  Refrigerate until serving time.  Immediately before serving, top with the sprinkles. 

Makes 30 jelly shots.
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