MONTEJELLO'S TIPS 'N TRICKS

This is the section where I tell you every single mistake I have made 
(so you don't have to). Plus I tell you neat ideas I have had for 
making fun and festive Jello Shots.

When mixing your Jello Shots, I suggest using a Glass mixing bowl 
or a large (64 ounce or larger) Glass "measuring cup". First, the 
glass makes it much easier to see if your Jello Shot is mixed 
thoroughly. Second, the "measuring cup" usually has a spout or 
some sort of pouring lip. This makes it easier to pour into the 
cups/pans/molds. Third, glass doesn't get stained from the Jello 
or absorb the odors.

Let's talk water. 
There really is an optimal temperature range for 
making Jello and especially Jello Shots. In my experience that 
temperature range is right around 140 degrees (F). Much cooler than 
that and the Jello doesn't mix well and dissolve properly. If the 
water is too hot, the Jello tends to foam, which is fine; it just 
isn't as aesthetically pleasing as a nice smooth-looking Jello Shot.

In order to make lots of one flavor of Jello Shot you will need a 
large mixing bowl, or a regular-sized mixing bowl if you are making 
lots of different flavors. 
 
Water Temperature
We talked about the correct temperature of the water earlier. But 
how do you make lots of water at the correct temperature in order 
to make lots of Jello Shots? What is the easiest way? I have two 
ways that I use. The first is to just keep running water through 
my coffee maker. It is the perfect temperature and I just add 
water as I use it.  That way I always have enough. This has its 
limitations when making very large batches (more than 6) of one 
flavor. My coffee pot only holds 12 cups, therefore the 6x limit. 
The other way is to get a big ol' pot of water heated up and keep 
it on low (you may have to adjust the setting depending on how 
your stove works). Then, I just take water as I need it. I have a 
huge pot I like to use to make very large same-flavor batches but 
it's a little difficult to find the correct setting that keeps the 
temp in the right range. My sister suggests using a tea kettle. I 
don't have one, so I don't use one, but it should work just fine 
if you have one.
 
Jello Shot Storage Containers
So, you ask MONTEJELLO™, where do you get those nifty little plastic 
Jello Shot Cups (including lids to make them easy to store and 
transport!)? I'm glad you asked! You get them Right Here!

I have tried many different kinds of cups and these are the best! 
One Tip 'N Trick: The Jello Shots "set" much faster in the cups 
than in a pan, which is cool, especially when you are in a hurry. 
And if you are really in a hurry, you can stick the Jello Shots in 
the freezer for about 10-20 minutes (depending on how hot the mix 
is and if you are using the little shot cups or a tray). I always 
finish them off in the fridge to avoid freezing. JelloJectors™ 
(Jello Shot Injector, Jello Shot Syringe) also work well for 
transport. They are so much fun! 

Slipping The Shots Out
It can help to spray the cups/molds/pans with a cooking spray like 
"Pam" or something similar, that way they come out easier. I have 
to note that I personally don't like using a spray because I don't 
like that oily texture or taste. But you can and it does work. You 
can also dip the cups or molds in warm/hot water for a FEW SECONDS, 
this also works well. Another option is to make the Jello Shots in 
a tray, then cut them into squares and then putting the squares 
into the Jello Shot Cups. When filling the little Shot Cups I find 
it works best to put the Jello into a pitcher. I can fill the Shot 
Cups much easier and faster than by using a big spoon or ladle. 
I have even used a baster with mixed results. You don't have this
issue when using JelloJectors™ (The Jello Shot Syringe, Jello Shot 
Injector) THIS JUST IN - Check out Twist 'n SHOT
they solve the "Getting the Shot out of the Cup" problem quite well.

Other Things to Put And/Or Transport Your Jello Shots In
Use those disposable foil pans or the new cheap but reusable tubs 
like "GladWare." I really like things with lids for several 
reasons. One, they are easy to transport. Two, they keep your 
fridge and car from smelling like a massive Jello Shot. Three, if 
you have lids you can stack the Jello Shots on top of each other. 
If you are in a jam and using an 8x8" pan for your Jello Shots, 
you put it in a One Gallon Plastic Zip Lock Bag.  The pan fits 
perfectly and you can blow air into the bag, and then seal it. 
You can now stack these too, though they are not as stable as a 
rigid lid.
 
USING MOLDS AND LAYERING JELLO

Molds are so cool; you can do a Christmas theme of green Jello Shot trees and red 
Jello Shot Santas. Or, you can do different colored Jello Shot eggs and bunnies 
for Easter. And of course what is cooler than a black Jello Shot spider and a 
black and orange Jello Shot witch for Halloween? You can use letter molds and 
spell out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to a friend.  If you are really creative you can even 
do an American Flag Jello Shot for 4th of July, or a flag of many other countries! 

Now, getting the Jello into the mold is much easier than getting it out. But trust 
me, you can do it. Two tricks: One, once again you can use something like "Pam" 
to spray the molds. Or you can dip the molds in warm water and then turn the mold 
over on top of a cookie sheet or something like that and they will just pop out! 
How cool is that? So basically only your imagination is the limit when it comes 
to what you can do with Jello Shots.

How to Layer a Jello Shot: 
This takes some extra time but can be very much worth the effort. Layering Jello 
Shots makes a very nice presentation. There are some tricks involved, however, 
and like I said before, a nice presentation takes some time. First, make a layer 
and put it in your chosen container. Next, put it in your refrigerator until 
completely set. Make your next layer of Jello Shot and let it cool, but not set. 
A cool and thick but fluid consistency is best. If the second layer is too hot 
or the first layer isn't completely set, you are not going to get what you are 
looking for. If you hit it just right, the two layers mix just a bit where they 
meet. It is actually kind of cool. You can make as many layers as you want. One 
other tip, while pouring the layers spread out the pressure of your pour so as 
not to dig a hole into the previous layer.

OOOZers!
Something I did last Halloween was what I call OOOZers. (Just so you know, for 
Halloween, Black and Orange Jello Rocks!) In orange Jello Shots I put a drop of 
red food coloring, then I poke a knife through the food coloring and some of it 
stays with the knife. You end up with a really cool looking red, cloudy thing in 
the middle of your Jello Shot. Ok, cool might not be the best word to describe 
the effect, but hey, it's Halloween! The OOOzer part actually comes from the Black 
Jello. You basically do the same thing, except what you see is little spots of 
liquid on top of the Jello Shot. Invariably it gets touched and poof "blood" on 
your finger. Again Halloween is about the only time I would use this. By the way, 
to make "black" Jello you mix orange and grape.  It turns brown more than black, 
but hey, it is close. It kind of has the taste of a weak "cola." I got that tip 
directly from Kraft.

For mixing my Jello Shots I like to use a large, glass measuring cup. The reasons 
for this are: One, it has a slight pour spout which works great for pouring the 
Jello Shot mix into a pan or larger mold. It is not so hot for the little Jello 
Shot Cups or smaller molds. Two, I like the glass because I can see if the Jello 
Shot is mixing well and/or properly. And three, I like Glass because it doesn't 
stain from the Jello Shot mix or absorb odors like plastic will. Metal would 
probably work OK too, except you can't see through it. 
 
SUBSTITUTIONS
Juice: Another thing I like to do is use Juice in place of water in some of my 
Jello Shot recipes. Juice adds flavor, great flavor to your Jello Shots. I started 
using Juice in a recipe to help tame the taste of tequila (I can't stand the taste 
of tequila; to be honest, I don't even like the smell!) But I had a few requests 
for a Margarita Jello Shot, so being the Jello Guru I had to come up with a recipe. 
It was a success.  While it is not my favorite Jello Shot, it was OK, and I ate 
several. More importantly, everyone else loved it! (See what I mean about Jello 
Shots being a hit at a party?) Usually when coming up with a new Jello Shot, I 
start using water for the hot liquid, then, if I think it needs something else, 
I use either a like-flavored Juice (i.e. Orange Juice in Orange Jello), or a complementary-flavored juice (i.e. cranberry juice in Raspberry Jello). Again, 
using juice can take your Jello Shots to a whole new level. Yum!

Alcohol: You don't need to go out and buy all kinds of fancy alcohol to make great Jello Shots. (I have to admit, Vodka is what I use most and my 
favorite is Absolut, which I rarely use, but more on that later.) You can use, 
and some of my recipes do call for, several kinds of alcohol, but it isn't 
necessary unless you want to make one of the recipes that call for it. Using just 
Vodka and water you can make at least a dozen different varieties of Jello Shots. 
Using Flavored Vodka? Dozens more different Jello Shots are possible. Use Schnapps, Liqueurs or other forms of alcohol, rack up many more dozen different recipes. 
Bring in the juice and you literally have over a thousand different Jello Shot possibilities.

So why don't I use Absolut vodka if it is my favorite? It is simply a matter of 
economics. 99% of the population can't tell if you use Absolut vodka or the 
cheapest thing you can find. Now, while I have not given the whole population of 
the world a taste test to back me up, I have run my own tests over the years. I 
started out using Absolut in all of my vodka Jello Shots. That lasted about a 
month, until I was broke, then it was off to the half gallon of the cheapest stuff 
I could find. I've never looked back. Even when I set the same flavor of Jello 
shots next to each other, one made with Absolut, the other with the cheap stuff, 
no one could tell which was which. In fact, most couldn't tell a difference at all. 
I know there are those of you Absolut or Skyy vodka die-hards out there who will vehemently disagree, so you can go ahead and use what ever brand you want. I don't 
care. I am not saying don't use it; I am just saying based on my experience the 
brand of vodka really doesn't matter, and is so not worth the extra cost. But hey, 
use whatever floats your boat.

That Extra Thing: Fruit!
Using Fruit in or around (I'll tell you what I mean by this) your Jello Shots is 
Awesome! What I like to do is use (Complementary or Contrasting) Fruit; 
Raspberries in Raspberry Jello, Cranberries in Lime Jello. You get the idea. I 
measure out my alcohol, add some Fruit to the alcohol and preferably let it set 
over night or a few hours for sure (in the fridge). Then I strain out the Fruit, 
and use that alcohol that is now infused with the flavor and/or color of the fruit 
in my Jello Shots. Let me tell you it is AMAZING! You have to try it! Then you can 
take the Fruit and put some in each Jello Shot (my sister that hates Gin, also 
isn't very fond of Fruit in her Jello Shots, but she loves to infuse the flavor and 
color of the Fruit into the alcohol). Or you can use the Fruit in muffins or 
something like that. If you really don't know what to do with the Fruit, heck just 
EAT IT! All those vitamins and Antioxidants shouldn't go to waste, come on now!

One Last and Final Tip
Keep your alcohol in the Freezer. It helps cool down the Jello Shot so it sets 
faster, plus it is less likely to "cook off" before the Jello Shot sets.


WHAT TO USE: SHOT CUPS, PANS, OR MOLDS?

Shot Cups, Pans, Molds; what to use? Well, use whatever you want, or what will 
work best for the occasion. Here is the down and dirty on each according to 
Montejello.

PLASTIC "JELLOJECTORS":
The good: The more I use these, the more I like them. First of all, they are just 
fun! Next, if you need to make your shots more than a week a head of time this is 
the only way to go. I made some Jello Shots and had them in the "Jellojectors" 
and they were still awesome 3 weeks later! I was amazed. Usually you can get a 
week, maybe 10 days tops when using a mold, pans, or Jello Shot cups. I believe 
the difference is the lack of air that is in the syringe. And, you can rinse them 
out and use them over and over again.

The Bad: Nothing really. They are easy to fill, just suck the Jello Shot into the 
syringe. They come with caps so you can lay them down or stand them up on the 
plunger while they set up. They are tipsy when standing on end but don't get 
damaged if they fall. 
 
PLASTIC JELLO SHOT CUPS:,
The universe's gift to Jello Shots! OK, so I like them a little. 
These are so cool!
 
Anyway here is the good:
-They have lids so they transport and stack well. 
-They have lids so they don't make your refrigerator smell like a giant Jello Shot.
-They cool and firm up much faster than a pan of Jello Shot or a  Mold of Jello 
Shot, although a small mold would be about the same cooling time I suppose.
-They are handy and fun! 
-They are cute! (OK, maybe I like them a little too much. 
 Montejello exits here, "I'll be right back.")

The bad:
Nothing. 
OK, maybe one thing. When you pour the Jello Shot into the shot cups and they 
firm up, the shots are really difficult to get out of those little cups. Some 
people suggest spraying the cups with "Pam" or something like that. I don't 
like the taste of "Pam".  There are other options. Go around the outside with 
a knife to loosen up the edges, and then you can kind of "scoop" it out. I 
also have a brother-in-law who is a magician with a Jello Shot and a toothpick. 
The other option is to make the Jello shots in a pan, then cut them or scoop 
them into the shot cups. NEW - Check out Twist 'n SHOT
they solve the "Getting the Shot out of the Cup" problem quite well. 
 
MOLDS:
The Good: Fun! Festive! Halloween Molds, Christmas Molds, Easter Molds, Patriotic 
Molds. You can use just about any mold you have. If it will work for a cake it 
can work for Jello.

The Bad: It takes longer to set than the Jello Shot Cups and depending on how 
deep the mold is it may take longer than a pan. Getting it out of the mold: There 
are two methods I know of: The first is you can use "Pam". Or my preferred method 
is to dip the mold for a second or two in medium hot water and turn it over into 
a tray or pan or something like that.

PANS: 
The Good: This is by far the fastest and easiest for everyone involved, this is 
how I usually make My Jello shots. Talk about fun! Jello Shot Jigglers! Cut 'em 
up and dig in. "Watch it wiggle… See it Jiggle...Jello brand…"  How many people 
remember that Jingle for Jello and have not heard it in years? Talk about 
Marketing and Advertising!

The Bad: Not much. It takes a little longer to set up than the little shot cups.

More About Pans:
In the grocery store you can buy those 8 x 8 aluminum pans with lids! A Godsend! 
If you are in a pinch and have an 8x8" pan with no lid, no worries! Grab a one 
gallon zip lock bag. Toss the pan in (ok maybe slide it in) the bag and blow. 
After you put the pan in the bag, zip the bag most of the way shut, blow air into 
it, and seal it the rest of the way. This will allow the pans to set on top of each 
other without damage for transport. These are not very stable stacked on top of 
each other unless you have a rigid or semi-rigid container to keep them from sliding… 
around. Usually the bag won't stick to the Jello Shot anyway, so the Blowing thing is 
optional. If you don't do the blowing thing, they will actually stack better and as 
long as you don't have a long way to go or it isn't really hot out, you should be fine.

One other thing about Jello Shots and pans or anything without a really tight seal
 of some sort: NEVER, EVER, EVER leave your pan of mostly-consumed Jello Shots in 
the back seat of your car overnight. BAD, VERY BAD things can happen. Like…the 
Jello Shot will warm up and liquefy, then it might seep over the edge of the pan 
and onto the back seat of your car. Please don't ask me how I know this, just 
promise you won't ever do it. Wasting good Jello Shot is BAD! Trust me: your back 
seat won't enjoy your Jello Shots nearly as much as you and your friends will. 
Though, now that I think about it, you and your friends might enjoy the back seat 
more than the Jello will.

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