What can simultaneously conjure up the innocence of summer days in suburbia—where kids with names like Mary and Timmy come running across the lawn for an afternoon snack—and a bunch of sweaty college kids cramming into dorm rooms, licking body shots off one another's stomachs?
Jell-O shots! They're whimsical, bright, colorful, and slightly deviant. They put the "jiggle" into giggle juice, the punch into indulgence, the flavor into firewater. Their unreal neon flavors will stain your lips and make you forget that you are drinking a lot more than the Kool-Aid…. And these vibrant treats are a rite of passage. "Have you done Jell-O shots?" you may hear partygoers ask each other on that most eagerly anticipated of young adult birthdays.
What does doing shots entail exactly?
Whatever you want it to. Pop them into your mouth, "inject" them, make temporary body art, experiment with different colors and layers. Pick your poison and your favorite Jell-O flavor and see how they taste together. Add whipped cream, fruit slices, or gumdrops. Make "zippers" for an outdoor party, for a new neighbor, for a girls' night in, or guys' night out. Try team colors for sports events. Concoct seasonal varieties for holidays. You can make an old-fashioned Jell-O mold for everyone to share, cut Jell-O into squares, sculpt with cookie cutters, or use plain old ice cube trays.
While you're mixing, pouring, and waiting for shots to set, you'll be in good company. Long a Friday-night staple for the down-and-dirty college set, Jell-O shots have now established themselves as a legitimate cocktail. When Orthodox Jews serve Manischewitz shots at a Passover Seder, kids in Texas are suspended for selling Jell-O shots at school, and karaoke bars in Kabukicho, Tokyo, are lined with gelatin tequila balls, you can be sure the wiggly snacks have hit the big time.
Today's creations are just the latest in a history of invention that began when Pearle B. Wait transformed gelatin dessert by adding a fruit flavor in 1897. It was his wife who came up with the name and the world said "hello" to Jell-O for the first time. In the 1950s, raspberry floating islands, orange parfait pies, and bowls of tapioca took over the kitchen landscape with a decidedly space-age feel. At a time when dessert was practically a recommended food group, moms likely had no idea just how much fun their grandchildren would one day have with this perennially popular dessert.
Ready to get started? All you need is a few boxes of Jell-O powder, boiling water, and your favorite moonshine. Later, when the lights are low and the music high, there'll be no need for guests to hover around the mixing table spilling ungodly amounts of high-end vodka. Want margaritas? Try lime and tequila dipped in salt. Something that doubles as dessert? Mix chocolate pudding with Baileys Irish Cream. A touch of sophistication? How about champagne glasses? Something to mark the beginning of summer vacation? Make portable little Mojitos with fresh mint.
They're fun to prepare and they sure go down easy. Try new flavors. Try new colors. Express yourself. Go wild. Be a kid again (except for the 80-proof beverage part, of course). Nothing says "instant party" like a tray full of wiggly multicolored little cocktails. Bottoms up. But not for long.
