Once upon a time, I was hired as a gogo dancer.
Now, I should probably start off by stating that I have never taken a dance lesson in my life. Therefore, all of my dance skills come from theater or high school dances. That roughly translates into skills that are quite classy (waltz and swing) and the total opposite of classy (which means I’m quite good at dancing like a whore).
Those slutty dance skills led to me applying to be a gogo dancer during the summer between college and med school. I couldn’t find a job in Michigan, so I up and left and moved to Phoenix for three months and applied for pretty much any job out there.
That’s why I then applied to work as a gogo dancer. The place of course had a name that sounded like a stripclub, but was in fact quite a respectable lounge (I would have had to dance AND serve drinks and food, thank you very much).
Anyway, I passed the test (did you really think I didn’t have to demonstrate my dance skills? my ability to take drink and food orders? AND look good in tight black dresses?) and was hired. And then they told me the bad news:
I had to work every Tuesday through Saturday night from 6pm-4am. And I was never allowed to drink at work.
Let’s get one thing straight. This was my last summer of freedom before starting med school. I moved somewhere totally random. And I wanted to have FUN.
Which is why I promptly quit and decided to work at Macy’s instead.
On later reflection now, though, I wish I had kept the job. It would have made for an even better story.
Dance Inspiring Beer Jelly
you’ll want to make this ASAP since I use it in a ton of recipes to follow
Ingredients
- 24 oz warm beer (I used Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss and thus would recommend any good beer with a honey taste for this particular application)
- 6 tbsp regular powdered pectin
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 3.5 c white sugar
How-to
- Open beer and dump it into a large bowl. Stir vigorously. Leave out overnight so it can get extra flat (I apologize for making your house smell like the remains of a frat party, but I promise it’s worth it).
- The next day, get out a large stockpot. Place jelly jars (you can have up to 40 oz of jelly, so use your desired jar size combination) on the bottom and fill with water. Bring to a boil.
- In a separate soup pot, mix together warm, hopefully now-flat beer, pectin, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil.
- Add in sugar. Return to a boil and cook for 1 minute (timer required).
- Turn off heat and let rest for approximately 5 minutes. For clear beer jelly, spoon off any foam. For bubbly beer jelly, don’t.
- In a small saucepan, boil jelly jar lids.
- Remove jelly jars from boiling pot. Continue to keep that water boiling. Dry off jelly jars with paper towels. Ladle in beer jelly and top with lids and rings. Wipe off jars.
- Place jars back into huge pot of boiling water and process (aka just let them hang out) for 10 minutes.
- Remove jars from boiling water, making sure that the top of the lid is sucked down and doesn’t pop back up when you press on it.
domestic diva, M.D. 
I’ll have to try this. I have made wine jelly but never beer jelly. Same prinicple, I guess. Bet it would be good on a burger with sauteed onions and sharp smoked cheddar. And bacon, of course 🙂
I’ve also used it on grilled cheese and in my chicken wing hot sauce (that recipe to follow).
Ooooh I like that Idea of putting it on a burger!
Especially with a nice slice of a good cheese and sauteed onions 🙂
Since Jam and/or Jelly are about the only thing I have mastered in the kitchen, I am excited to see the recipes you can use beer jelly in! People have asked me a million times to make it, but I just couldn’t figure why to do it……….Now you are going to show me!
Powerful first sentence. Never thought of making beer jelly, does it still have a carbonated flavor to it?
Nope. If you use the beer I did, it ends up tasting like a honey jelly.
This looks so amazing. I love Honeyweiss too (and I’m sad for the people who live in states where they don’t sell Honeyweiss)! I’m probably going to make it this weekend. I can’t wait to see how it is used in your recipes 🙂
I worked at a night club and a strip club while in the Marine Corps. No recipes to share but I do have very interesting stories. I usually save these stories for those, “Tell us one interesting thing about”, during introductions at business meetings.
That’s a great story today anyway! My girlfriend was a go-go dancer as well… I wondered if they would have paid you a decent wage?? Great recipe too, btw!
I probably would have made more working there than Macy’s since a) there were no clothes to buy with that great discount and b) I could have gotten tips.
Haha, but you probably had a great wardrobe which was pretty important at that age (well, at any age).. yes, the tips are the big $$ aren’t they?
Hahaha- the wardrobe was actually more important since med school is a bit dressier than undergrad. Where I had previously gone to school, I was “dressed up” in a hoodie as long as I put on mascara. 😉
Hey, silly question time… I’ve never heard of beer jelly, and I get the gist of what it is from your recipe, but… what on earth do you use it for? What does it go well with?
I’ll mix it with other things to create dipping sauces or glazes or just spread it on a grilled cheese sandwich.
Interesting recipe!
I worked as a go-go dancer for one night. I thought since it was a girl club, it wouldn’t be sleazy. My night was ruined about ten minutes in, when the first person to tip me slid a dollar bill through my legs into the back of my waistband. All night long, all I could think was, “I’ve been violated for a dollar. If I am going to feel like such a whore, I need WAY more money.”
Interesting concept. I haven’t tried jelly making yet. That’ll be next on my list!
I bet this is good – I have friends that are beer snobs who would totally dig it. Although my first and second attempts at jelly (a habenero kind) were abysmal, I may have to give this a whirl. Do they sell Honey Weiss in NY?
I’m in NY to Lady Sensory so I went to their website. They have a bunch of places on the map, so I guess you’ll just have to find the one closest to you. This will have to be added to my maybe someday folder. Argh. Need my own kitchen!
What classy joint? I hail from phx
Witty, talented and brainy.
Great blog! After browsing through a few posts, I’ll definitely have to try out a few of the recipes for myself. Thanks for checking out and following my fledgling blog, “I Could Write It…” Keep an eye out for more of my musings on wine and fantastic food!
I have never even heard of beer jelly but you can be assured Im going to make it! Thanks for the great idea!
I’ve become fascinated with different jellies ad jams of late. Using beer had never occurred to me. Sounds wonderful.
My next project will be wine jelly 🙂
thats one i have been meaning to try. can’t wait to see the post
This looks easy to make and
I’m intrigued by the addition of beer!
I’m sure you have some great Macy’s stories, and had better working hours! Good choice 🙂
Too funny. I love your stories with your recipes! Very entertaining.
You had me at beer!
…(which means I’m quite good at dancing like a whore).
I’m speechless, but in a good way.
Come on- have you seen high schoolers dance? There is NO room for Jesus.
dm,
Who said anything about Jesus? I merely thought that line of yours was clever and it hooked me. Humor, simply humor.
Hahahaha, I only said that because my close friend went to a Catholic school, and at dances the head nun would get in her face and tell her to ‘Leave room for Jesus.”
Alas, it didn’t work, as she also shares my “dance like a whore” skills. 😉
“Leave room for Jesus”? LOL! I won’t even touch that one. No pun intended…
You are funny! I so identify with the home made clothes. Until about 6th grade, it was a point of pride when people asked if I’d sewn my clothes. After that it was an embarrassment.
Looking forward to reading about where you do your anesthesia residency.
Your stories are hilarious. I’ve actually never heard of beer jelly before, but it sounds like something my boyfriend would flip for…
Reblogged this on Out of Time Mom and commented:
Ok, beer jelly. I’m interested.
Thank you!!!
Fantastic story….as a teacher, I am also not allowed to drink on the job, but I get out early enough to conduct my own happy hour if I like!
Hey there! Thank you for following my blog. I scrolled around and my eyes landed on…. Oh. My. God. Beer Jelly?! The BF makes some home-brewed beer and I can’t think of a better excuse to try this out. xx
I definitely need to get some of my friend’s home brew to try out some home brew beer jelly 🙂
I love this story, I may do something crazy before med school now.
Um Hello?!??! Why have I never heard of beer jelly??? This sounds AWESOME and is on my list of things to make….pronto!
It’s. Amazing. 😉
Perfect glaze for a steak or a pork chop!!!
another gem.
Reblogged this on A FRESH START and commented:
AWESOME
Wow! Two of my favourite things together- sounds like a Simpsonesque dream! 🙂