Jelly Shot Test Kitchen: Jell-ing Classic Cocktails-One Drink at a Time [Hardcover]

Michelle Palm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 24, 2011

Remember jello shots of days of yore? They're all grown up, and are sporting a sophisticated new look! "Jelly Shots" are classic cocktails reinvented as sassy, gelatin shots--perfect, jewel-like squares, sans cup, which any adult would be proud to serve at their next dinner party.

From Cosmopolitans, Tequila Sunrises, and Mojitos to Gimlets and Chocolate Martinis, Jelly Shot Test Kitchen is a guide to making gelatin versions of favorite libations. Armed with only a saucepan, a cake pan, and a sharp knife (and ingredients!), readers can be well on their way to a gorgeous batch of Jelly Shots.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2011
The frat-party favorite is all grown up.

Hot off the blogosphere, Palm (jelly-shot-test-kitchen.blogspot.com) has cooks up great fun in the kitchen with her debut. Part chemistry and part mad science, with a healthy dash of hipster cool, Palm's springy step-by-step guide brings this beloved party shot to lofty new heights. Posing the question asked by famed cocktail website The Art of the Drink, “Is a Jelly Shot a bite or a beverage?,” Palm encourages readers to find out for themselves. She rates each recipe from “Easy” to “Advanced” and offers readers the tools for getting creative with color, layering and shape as they gain confidence. Palm reinterprets classic cocktails such as the Tom Collins, as well as the newly invented Peanut Butter and Jelly Martini, providing jelly-shot options for both high- and low-brow tastes. She even includes a thoughtful section on pairings. Her recipes are well fleshed-out, making it obvious that each has been treated with love and care in their development. Illustrated with full-page photographs so polished and posh even Victoria Beckham would have trouble resisting.

A saucy addition to any mixologist’s library.

Library Journal, May 2011
"In the small subgenre of cocktail books, this guide stands out for its style. Palm’s gift for food styling and her sophisticated treatment of jelly shots makes her blog translate especially well to print. This unique title will appeal to spirits enthusiasts.”

Cosmopolitan UK, May 2011
“Forget slushy, slurpy vodka jellies – these shots have style.”

Tasting Table
 "…more than 60 recipes for boozy bites. Palm leaves the boxes of flavored Jell-O mix and small paper cups to the frat house; instead, she lets the liquor shine through by setting it with unflavored gelatin in a series of dainty molds. The results are gorgeous party-perfect jewels."

About the Author

Michelle Palm started the Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog in 2009 after many successful experiments with gelatin and alcohol. Michelle continues to add more gelatin cocktails to her repertoire, and her blog has received both local and national attention.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (May 24, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762440546
• ISBN-13: 978-0762440542
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Bartending

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Delicious Recipes - Great for Parties June 2, 2011

By C. Gentry

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had made a couple of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen recipes before from their blog and they have always turned out well. I am excited to have such a wide variety of shots now at my disposal - there's one for almost every occasion. Most of these recipes are pretty much idiot-proof, and are rated according to their difficulty as well. A fun, bright, and cheery layout make this a lovely book just to own and leave out for perusal. There's a large picture for every jelly shot, which only cause your mouth to water as you flip through. I have already made the Melon shots and they were yummy. Since I don't like to cook much, I find these a great alternative to take to a party or get together. They are a hit! Highly recommended.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars perfect for creative entertaining August 2, 2011

By J. Barron

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you love to entertain, the recipes in this book are perfect. Tasty, boozy, and freaking cute- they are a fun conversation topic as well. I made the Cosmopolitan shots for my sister's bachelorette party and they were a huge hit.

The only snag i have run into so far is adapting the recipes for vegetarians. The book has a page on 'how to substitute agar agar', but I tried this method twice according to directions, and both ended up grainy, slimy, and shapeless.

That said, all the shots made using gelatin have set up perfectly and are extremely user-friendly. They all (except for the agar agar ones) turned out just like the photos- when is the last time you had that experience with a cookbook?

Anyway, if you are looking for something fun and different for your next party, that doesn't require too much work, this is perfect!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun new way to make Jell-o shots December 6, 2011

By J. Kollasch VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been making your standard Jell-o shots for years and I'm known as the one that brings them to the party. When I saw this book it really excited me as a new way to step up an old favorite. It's also a great way to use up some old bottles of booze you have sitting in your cabinet that only have a little bit left. Plus you can introduce yourself to some newer cocktails in a way that is very user friendly. I've made probably about 3/4 of the recipes in this book thus far and I haven't really found one that has been a complete dud. The favorites have been the classic fruity cocktails like the strawberry daiquiri and the cosmopolitan with one dud being the lemon drop due to it's lack of excitement. For the most part these taste just like the cocktails they're named after and the layered jelly shots are really pretty to look at-making people think you've spent more time then you have. Another bonus is that unlike your standard Jell-o shots which got watery after being out of the refrigerator for more than ten minutes these will stay sold after hours of sitting on the shelf. I've even chilled unused ones and had them again the next day which is unheard of with Jell-o. This book is a must have for those that love novelty entertaining.