Mother's Day 2010. Mindy and I invited my mother over for brunch. I made salmon quiche by following my mother's recipe and calling her several times for instruction. I also made a Bloody Mary with three olives, which is my mom's favorite brunch cocktail. A few weeks prior, I had a Bloody Mary at a restaurant in Eagle Rock, loved it, and noticed the bartender using Clamato as the tomato juice. I had never heard of it, but decided to use it for brunch. Fast forward to Mother's Day and my mother in the kitchen, excitedly sipping her Bloody Mary...pausing...and asking me, Did you use Clamato?" I said I had. She looked at me again and repeatedly slowly, "Clam....ato." Needless to say, it was that emphasis on the word that made me realize that it's made with clam juice, which was not the best choice, since my mother is allergic to shellfish.
Fortunately for all of us, my mother had only taken a sip, which made her lips numb, so I successfully avoided killing her on Mother's Day. Lesson Number One: Read Labels. Anyway, here's Mindy's Bloody Mary Recipe and my suggestions on what to add as a garnish.
Fortunately for all of us, my mother had only taken a sip, which made her lips numb, so I successfully avoided killing her on Mother's Day. Lesson Number One: Read Labels. Anyway, here's Mindy's Bloody Mary Recipe and my suggestions on what to add as a garnish.
Bloody Mary Recipe
-Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the bottom of glass.
-A splash of balsamic vinegar.
-One tablespoon of Worcestershire Sauce.
-Swirl to mix.
-Add ice to fill 1/2 the glass.
-Add 1 shot of vodka, or 2 if you're like me.
-Add tomato juice. (Note: Do NOT use Clamato Juice if your guest is allergic to shellfish. Although we like organic tomato juice, it's often too thick to use in a Bloody Mary. If you want to use organic tomato juice, you may need to thin it with water.)
-One tablespoon of horseradish. (Use less if you don't like it too spicy.)
-Top off with a few hits of hot sauce. (I like Tapatio or Tabasco.)
Of course the finale is the garnish. Olives are a given, but you could always step out on the celery and add other items instead. Examples include a marinated asparagus spear, green bean, or artichoke heart. I've also added a finely chopped red onion and yellow banana peppers.
We ordered the Bloody Mary table-service at Morels at The Grove. (http://www.morelsla.com/index.php.) It came with shaved horseradish, fresh cut herbs, and a marinated green bean. It was absolutely fantastic. Here's a picture:
-Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the bottom of glass.
-A splash of balsamic vinegar.
-One tablespoon of Worcestershire Sauce.
-Swirl to mix.
-Add ice to fill 1/2 the glass.
-Add 1 shot of vodka, or 2 if you're like me.
-Add tomato juice. (Note: Do NOT use Clamato Juice if your guest is allergic to shellfish. Although we like organic tomato juice, it's often too thick to use in a Bloody Mary. If you want to use organic tomato juice, you may need to thin it with water.)
-One tablespoon of horseradish. (Use less if you don't like it too spicy.)
-Top off with a few hits of hot sauce. (I like Tapatio or Tabasco.)
Of course the finale is the garnish. Olives are a given, but you could always step out on the celery and add other items instead. Examples include a marinated asparagus spear, green bean, or artichoke heart. I've also added a finely chopped red onion and yellow banana peppers.
We ordered the Bloody Mary table-service at Morels at The Grove. (http://www.morelsla.com/index.php.) It came with shaved horseradish, fresh cut herbs, and a marinated green bean. It was absolutely fantastic. Here's a picture:
Enjoy!