Jennifer Farley’s “The Art of Slush”and Beer Floats Recipe

Remember last week when I posted my boys doing a demonstration of the Zoku Slush and Shake Maker?  Well, I had a chance to chat with master Zoku-user Jennifer Farley on her new Zoku, The Art of Slush cookbook, as well as recreate her beer floats recipe.  

The Art of Slush  features an assortment of slushies, milkshakes and smoothies that are designed to work with the Zoku Slush and Shake Maker.  The Art of Slush indulges its readers with both healthy and decadent options that include a broad range of ingredients to create the perfect frozen masterpiece.  Watch for Farley’s beer floats recipe at the end of the interview.  

Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps (GGG):  Hi Jennifer.  Thanks for taking the time to chat with me.  First, let me begin by congratulating you on your new cookbook.  

Jennifer Farley (JF): Thank you.  I am very excited about my cookbook and to talk about it with you.

GGG: Great!  Let’s begin.  First, can we talk about your relationship with Zoku and how the cookbook collaboration began? 

JF:  Last November I did a Zoku review and giveaway on my blog. I didn’t really expect anything to come of it because their PR company works with bloggers on a regular basis. However, Ken Zorovich, the president of Zoku, happened to see my post and really like the recipe and photograph. He was on the lookout for someone to write their second cookbook after the first book was created in-house. Next thing I knew we were talking on the phone and working out the logistics of the book. It’s cliche, but I really was in the right place at the right time.

GGG: How long did the cookbook process take, from initial contact to completion?

JF:  I first began chatting with Ken toward the end of 2012. Once we formally agreed to work together the entire process was a whirlwind. I spent the month of January testing recipes non stop, sometimes up to 10 per day. Most of the writing for the book was done during February while others tested the recipes and I refined them as needed. We went to press in April and the book was released in June.

GGG: Is this your first cookbook?

JF: This is indeed my first cookbook! I didn’t know much about the cookbook creation process before signing on to do The Art of Slush but I had so much fun with everything. I’m still in awe overtime I see it in a Williams-Sonoma store. I’m currently working on a proposal for my second book!

GGG: What was your favorite thing about working on the cookbook with Zoku? 

JF: It was such an exciting experience for me. I never thought I would be publishing a cookbook this early in my career (I’ve only been out of culinary school for three years). Because Zoku approached me I didn’t have to deal with a lot of the headaches that typically come with cookbook authorship. They took care of working with the publisher and graphic designer. I was able to focus completely on my craft. I loved working with Ken. I loved his creativity and we shared a similar vision for how the final book would be presented. 

GGG: What tips do folks need to keep in mind when working with the Zoku Slush and Shake Maker and your recipes?

JF: You want the Slush and Shake Maker to be very cold. Let it chill in the freezer for 12 hours before using it the first time. After that it will work again in a faster time frame but you want it to get that initial freeze. Also, it’s important to remember that different ingredients freeze at different speeds. Alcohol and sugar will slow the process down. A drink may freeze in just a few minutes or it could take longer.

GGG: Are all the recipes in the book original creations by you? 

JF: Yes they are. Ken and I brainstormed some of the ideas in advance but the recipes themselves all came from my kitchen.

GGG: Tell me  your five most favorite recipes from the book.

JF: Horchata slush, Malted vanilla bean milkshake, Pistachio cardamom milkshake, Blood orange mojito slush, Cookies & cream

GGG: My boys loved the Cookies & cream.  I am so happy for you Jennifer.  Thank you for taking the time to chat with me and best of luck to you on The Art of Slush and your future projects.  

JF: Thank you!  It was great talking to you.

About the Author:  Jennifer Farley is the creator, recipe developer and food photographer of her blog, Savory Simple.  Jennifer graduated from the Culinary Arts program at L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, MD and has worked professionally as a pastry chef and cooking instructor. Her work has been featured by Williams-Sonoma, Bon Appetit, The Huffington Post, Dean & Deluca and Marcus Sammuelsson.  She currently resides in Washington, D.C.  

I loved so many of Jennifer’s recipes from The Art of Slush, I really had a hard time deciding which one I was going to feature to go along with her interview.  Since I missed this week’s Malt Monday post because I was traveling I decided to go with her beer floats recipe, specifically, her Stout Beer Float Milkshake.