I’m at that age. The age where its time to start saying goodbye to good friends and fun buddies as they take the next step into our delayed adulthood and flee the big city in search of backyards and better school districts… Yup, that’s right. The suburbs. While I plan on staying an urbanite and living in a tiny, overpriced apartment forever, I recently celebrated the departure of some very good friends as they said goodbye to the Big Apple and hello to a four-bedroom brick colonial in a land far, far away. West Orange, New Jersey. Served at a BBQ in their honor, Bye Bye Big Apple jello shots are shaped like tiny apples and made with bourbon, sour apple liqueur and cranberry juice.

Good luck in the ‘burbs, friends! I’ll be out to visit as soon as you get that hot tub set up.

1 1/2 cup cranberry juice
4 envelopes plain gelatin
1/4 cups of sugar
1 1/2 cups of sour apple liqueur (clear, not green, if you can find it)
3/4 cups of whisky or bourbon
6 drops red food coloring
Tiny mint leaves to garnish.

In a saucepan, sprinkle gelatin evenly over the cranberry. Allow the gelatin to absorb the water for 2 minutes. Then, over medium heat, whisk continuously until cranberry juice comes just to a boil and gelatin is fully dissolved.

Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in the sour apple liqueur, whisky and red food coloring. Pour into a 13×19 or equivalent sized pan refrigerate overnight until firm.

Dip the pan in warm (not hot) for 15 seconds to loosen he gelatin. Use a mini apple shaped cookie cutter to cut out the shapes. Garnish with tiny mint leaves and serve.