Radioactive Jell-O Shots are a simple gin and tonic with lime Jell-O.  The tonic water makes them glow under a black light which makes them even more fun to eat!

This recipe and the giveaway included in this post is part of a sponsored event. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures possible.

 

You like how I tried to show the glowing shots with the regular shots?  Not quite how I wanted this to look, but you get the point.  LOL

 

I have been wanting to make glowing Jell-O shots for a couple of years now. Finding out what the ingredient is that makes them glow is like a, “Huh!” moment. I’ve known this for a while now. Actually, since I started dancing in college. But thinking about putting the drink in Jell-O to make them glow was like a, “Now why didn’t I think of that?” moment.

 

Yes, I know I’m being vague about this, but there’s a story about the discovery of the glowing ingredient.

 

When I was in college, I took a line dancing class. Yes, country line dancing. It was a fun class and I liked the instructor. So, I took the class a couple of times. You could take each PE course twice. I also took ice skating, ice fishing, and fishing twice.

 

 

Anyway, when I started the line dancing class, we learned some of the current dances and I told Mom I wanted to try finding a place to go dancing at home. And that’s what we did! In Springfield, VA there was a restaurant called Blackie’s. Half the restaurant was restaurant and the other half was bar with a dance floor. It wasn’t huge but it was a good size to have 75 plus on the floor at one time.

 

It was difficult getting a table in the bar. Mom and Dad had to work their magic and we roped in a waitress there to help us. She reserved a table for us the next week and we went week after week for a few years. That waitress became a good friend of the family for a while. Then she just sort of disappeared when the restaurant went away.

 

 

I was devastated. I had no idea where I would go dancing! Then I heard about this other place in Alexandra called Nick’s. It’s still there. The food wasn’t quite as good, but a lot of the regulars from Blackie’s were there, which made the transition easier. And it’s closer to where I lived at the time.

 

It was ALL bar and dance floor. The floor was much smaller, but I was still able to do all the dances I knew and learn a few new ones. I mean, the oldies are goodies for a reason. There’s always room for a Boot Scoot Boogie and a Tush Push. Just saying.

 

 

Okay, for those that do not exercise on a regular basis, sometimes leg cramps are imminent. Mom told me to start drinking some tonic water towards the end of the night because it helped with leg cramps. So, here’s some science-y type stuff for you.

 

Tonic water has quinine in it.

 

Quinine is typically used to treat malaria. I’m sure there’s a science-y reason for that, too, but I’m talking about leg cramps here. Quinine, in theory, helps to decrease the excitability of the motor end-plate and increases the muscle refractory period. What do that even mean?? Basically, motor end-plates are like neuron intersections.

 

So, if you calm those down, then they won’t want to get all party on, keep passing on the signals, and cause a leg cramp. And the muscle refractory period is the time it takes for a muscle to stop repeating the same action (cramp). Increasing that time between want to repeat the same thing means for less leg cramps. In theory.

 

 

If you Google this you’ll see that the FDA and everyone else freaks out about using quinine for leg cramps. Yes, there is an increased risk of bleeding and causing heart rhythm disturbances, but that’s in a much larger dose of quinine. You’re not going to get that with some tonic water. Trust me on this one.

 

And while you’re in Google you’ll see that some credible sites tell you it’s not enough to do anything. I speak from experience on this one. When I started drinking tonic water, I didn’t have as many Charlie horses in the middle of the night. Even when I’m not dancing and experience them repeatedly, I drink some quinine and they are few and far between in the middle of the night.

 

Now, the reason these radioactive Jell-O shots glow is a shorter story.

 

 

Quinine absorbs light energy. This includes UV light. Now, the regular light energy we can’t see. It’s just doing it’s thing and getting all party on under the naked eye. However, when you pair the tonic water with a black light or other UV light, you can see it light up like Christmas! That’s the quinine having a UV light party that’s non-stop but only visible when we pair it with a black light.

 

My one black light bulb really didn’t achieve the effect I was hoping for. I really needed one of those stick black lights. I might be looking for one of those this weekend. Or in the near figure. I’d like to use this technique for a few other recipes in the near-ish future. I mean, who doesn’t like UV glowing food and drink? Especially during the Halloween season.

 

 

These Jell-O shots has my favorite gin in there!

 

I went to an even at the local distillery. Since I’m a member and own a cask they invited us to pre-party party with tastings and some free food. I’m sure y’all saw some of the pics on my Instagram account. The barrel finished gin is something I didn’t remember tasting before. When I tasted it, the ideas just flooded my brain! I cannot wait to create in the kitchen with it.

 

It has a rich and creamy taste with luscious herbs and spices. The finishing in the bourbon barrel makes it sweet and rich. It really does have a honey quality to this gin. I cannot say enough good things about all of their spirits. And, well, they’re like 20 minutes from the house. Plus, their marketing manager is super sweet and shares when I tag them in recipes I make with their products. And I try to do my part to support them, too.

 

 

These look so cool!

 

Even though the blacklight isn’t as bright as I wanted, I really love the green glowing color. They totally look radioactive! And so much fun to look at and to eat! It’s a sweet and rich gin and tonic flavor with the lime Jell-O in there. So so good.

 

Funny story about that biohazard glass. I bought one at a Halloween store several years ago. It sat. And I never used it. That and the Ouija board class. Just sat. Then, I thought about these radioactive Jell-O shots and thought, “I really need to dig that glass out of the donation bag.” So, I grabbed it and the Ouija board glass out to go into my prop pile again.

 

 

The color of the glow depends on the color of the Jell-O.

 

If you want a blue glow, then use blue gelatin, orange, red, etc. You get the idea. I can’t imagine the red glowing that much. I might have to try it and see how that works out. But I’d need the brighter black light to make those, I’m sure. I wonder if the black cherry ones would glow. I’m definitely experimenting more with these.

Take a look at more spooky Halloween recipes from our #HalloweenTreatsWeek Bloggers today:

Halloween Cookies & Bars:

• Meringue Witch Finger Cookies from Big Bears Wife
• Pumpkin Snickerdoodles from Devour Dinner
• Shortbread Witches Fingers from The Flour Handprint
• Gingerbread Mummy Cookies from 4 Sons R Us

Halloween Breakfast:

• Hocus Pocus Mini Pancake Cereal from Fresh Coast Eats

Halloween Pies:

• Count Chocula Cream Pie from Sweet ReciPEAS

Sweet Halloween Treats:

• Individual Halloween Parfaits from Tastes of Homemade
• Radioactive Jell-O Shots from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Spiced Caramel Corn from Pastry Chef Online
• Halloween Strawberry Ghosts from I am a Honey Bee

Happy Halloween!

Spooky Season is here and it is time for 2020’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek event! #HalloweenTreatsWeek is a yearly Halloween blogging event that is hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife  & its a creepy and haunting week-long event is filled with some amazingly wicked Halloween treats, recipes and some frightfully fun giveaways.

“When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers ‘tis near Halloween.”

For the 3rd annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 30 hauntingly talented bloggers that are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! Follow the hashtag #HalloweenTreatsWeek on social media and look at the bottom of each post to see all of the Halloween recipes that we’re sharing!

Plus, don’t forget that we have some great giveaways for you this week thanks to our amazing sponsor and bloggers this year!  

Prize #1 from Dixie Crystals

OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowl Set

Prize #2 from Angie at BigBearsWife 

Ninja OP301 Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer and More, with 6.5 Quart Capacity and 45 Recipe Book, and a High Gloss Finish

Prize #3 from Nicole Taggart’s Origami Owl Jewelry Bar

Origami Owl Locket and Halloween Charms

 

Prize #4 from Kathy at Lemon Blossoms 

6 Quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Prize #5 from Terri at Our Good Life

Young Living’s Thieves Mints ($50 Value)

Pop a Thieves Mint into your mouth for cinnamint-fresh breath after meals. Made with naturally derived ingredients and free of artificial sweeteners, dyes, and preservatives, Thieves Mints are a choice you can feel good about. Created with Young Living’s Thieves essential oil blend, these mints deliver minty coolness with a hint of warm, sugar-free sweetness. Thieves Mints come in a conveniently sized container that is great to take on the go!!

 

Prize #6 from Julie  at Back To My Southern Roots

1 Copy of  – The Peanuts Family Cookbook: Delicious Dishes for Kids to Make with Their Favorite Grown-Ups

 

Prize #8 from Peabody of Sweet ReciPEAS

1 Copy of her new cookbook “Holy Sweet! 60 Indulgent Recipes for Bigger, Better Desserts”

Prize #9 from Megan of Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

1 Copy of her cookbook, “Incredible One-Pot Cooking: Easy, Delicious Recipes for Exciting Meals Without the Mess”

 

Prize #10 from Nicole of For the Love of Food Blog

1 Copy of “Friends: The Official Cookbook”

Prize #11 from Michaela from An Affair from the Heart, Jennifer from Take Two Tapas and Michele from West Via Midwest

ONE (1) $75 Amazon gift card

Prize #12 from Shanaka from It’s Shanaka

ONE (1) $25 Amazon gift card

Prize #13 from Ashley from Cheese Curd In Paradise

1 Copy of her cookbook, ” The Serial Killer Cookbook: True Crime Trivia and Disturbingly Delicious Last Meals from Death Row’s Most Infamous Killers and Murderers”

 

Prize #14 from Amy from House of Nash Eats

ONE (1) $100 Amazon gift card

  a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Giveaway open to US Residents 18 years or older. All entries will be verified. No PO Boxes Please. Prizes will be sent directly from sponsors to winners, bloggers are not responsible for prizes. This giveaway runs from October 5th – October 10th at 11:59PM EST. Winners will be selected soon afterward and contacted by e-mail. Winners will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. There are a total of 14 prizes and therefore we will have a total of 14 winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

Disclaimer: This recipe containers alcohol and for those over 21.  Drink responsibly.  These posts and recipes are part of the week-long event, #HalloweenTreatsWeek but all opinions are 100% mine! We would like to Thank our amazing brand sponsors: Dixie Crystals that provided a prize pack for our giveaways and also sent some samples and products to the #HalloweenTreatsWeek bloggers to use in their recipes.

We would also love to give a huge thanks to our Halloween Treats Week bloggers because a lot of them also donated prizes for the giveaways, including:  Angie of BigBearsWife ,  Nicole of Nicole Taggart’s Origami Owl Jewelry Bar, Kathy of Lemon Blossoms,  Terri of Our Good Life,  Julie of Back To My Southern Roots,  Peabody of Sweet ReciPEAS, Megan of Strawberry Blondie Kitchen, Nicole of For the Love of Food Blog, Michaela of An Affair from the Heart, Jennifer of Take Two Tapas, Michele of West Via Midwest, Shanaka of It’s Shanaka, Ashley of Cheese Curd In Paradise, and Amy from House of Nash Eats!