Perfect Bloody Marys
Yield: 8
Inactive Time: 12 hours
Active time (prep and cook): 10 Minutes
Perfect Bloody Marys
1 Recipe for Bloody Mary Mix (See Below)
Vodka
Lemons cut into Wedges
Homemade Sweet Hot Pickle Spears and Red Onions
Celery cut into Reasonable Sized Sticks
Salt and Pepper to taste
Ice
Perfect Bloody Mary Mix
4 cups Tomato Juice
Juice from 2 Lemons
2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce
1 tbsp A-1 Steak Sauce
2 cups Sucker Punch Bloody Mary Mix
Sweet Hot Pickles
3 Cucumbers peeled and cut in half, then cut into Spears
4 1/2 cups Apple Cider Vinegar
1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar
3 tbsp Red Pepper Flakes
3 tbsp Celery Seeds
3 tbsp ground Cumin
3 tbsp Ground Mustard
3 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Cayenne Chili Powder
1 Red Onion sliced
Directions
Perfect Bloody Marys
1. Pour 1 part vodka and 3 parts bloody Mary Mix into a tall glass without ice. Stir the drink with the celery stick until well combined. Add ice. Give one last stir to combine. Squeeze a wedge of lemon into the drink. Garnish with the celery, pickle spear and another wedge of lemon and salt and pepper if desired.
Perfect Bloody Mary Mix
Add all ingredients to a large pitcher and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.
Sweet and Hot Pickle Spears
1. Combine the vinegar, brown sugar, and all spices with 1 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
2. Toss together the cucumber and red onion. Transfer to about 3 wide-mouth quart sized Mason jars. Carefully pour over the warm vinegar mixture.
3. Screw on lids and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or preferably overnight.
Additional Information
My taste for a Bloody Mary is that it should be very hot and help wake you up in the morning. Of course adjust according to taste.
I am anti combining different spices in the Bloody Mary. If you like horseradish spice, go that route, I prefer to go the chili route. I do not like it when there is both in a recipe.
Use cold ingredients and stir the Bloody Mary Mix. Don't shake it as it dilutes the flavor of the mix. Many cocktails want some dilution, such as a Cape Cod or a Sex on the Beach. In this recipe you want to taste the mix which hides the taste of the vodka.
Speaking of vodka. The Bloody Mary does not highlight the flavor of alcohol it hides it. Don't buy expensive vodka for this recipe. Bottom shelf Barton's will do just fine. This is not a Grey Goose affair.
One reason it's good to have the Bloody Mary mix separate from the vodka is that it makes it so that your guests can determine how much vodka they want to imbibe in during the 11am-2pm window that is brunch and it let's the teetotalers enjoy the taste as well. This is a great virgin Bloody Mary as well.
I've been making sweet pickles lately which I do not enjoy as well as dill, but due to shipping issues in Utah strangely one thing I haven't been able to find is fresh dill of good quality. These sweet hot pickles are excellent as I need my pickles to be a little something besides sweet. They are a good substitute, but if you have a great recipe for dill pickles feel free to use those.
Limes can be a good substitute with for lemons if you like.
Salt is not necessary for this recipe. If you are using a very salty tomato juice don't garnish with salt.
Celery sticks should be cut according to the size of your glasses. If you are using tall Collin's glasses cut them tall, if you are using shorter rocks glasses cut them small. If you are using a variety of paper or plastic glassware, cut accordingly. You are using the celery to stir the drink to eliminate using a clean spoon for every drink.
What it comes down to is that the Bloody Mary is a very adaptable cocktail, adapt it to what you enjoy!
Breakfast Casserole
Yield: 12
Active time (prep and cook): 1 hour and 15 Minutes
Breakfast Casserole
Pam
2 lbs Sweet Italian Pork Sausage
12 Eggs
1 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup 2% Milk
Lawry's Seasoning Salt, to taste
1/2 Red Onion, diced
2 Green Bell Peppers, diced
6 Roma Tomatoes, diced
8 oz Mushrooms, sliced
8 oz Medium Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Directions
Breakfast Casserole
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9x13" pan with Pam.
2. Combine eggs, sour cream, milk, cheese and Lawry's in a large bowl. Mix with a wire whisk until just combined.
3. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned. Add to the egg mixture ,leaving some of the drippings in the pan.
4. Add the vegetables to the cast iron skillet. Turn the heat onto high and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the vegetables to the bowl with the eggs and stir everything to combine.
5. Pour the egg mixture into the greased 9x13" pan and bake for 45-55 minutes or until the edges are set and center is just barely jiggly.
Additional Information
This is a very adaptable dish. It is great for left over vegetables. Use whatever vegetables you like and really as many as you like. If you use less check the oven at 35 minutes. I like my casseroles with mostly meat and vegetables and a little egg. If you you prefer more egg do it your way. This recipe can be made really into anything you like.
The casserole can be mixed together the night before for an easy breakfast just put into the oven in the morning and enjoy your coffee while you wait.
Leftovers are delicious reheated in the microwave and should be enjoyed within 3-4 days.
Sparkling Fruit Salad
Yield: 16
Inactive time: 2 hours
Active time (prep and cook): 15 Minutes
Sparkling Fruit Salad
1 Pineapple, chopped
1 Honeydew Melon, chopped
1 Mango, sliced
8 Apples, cored and chopped
3 Green Anjou Pears, cored and chopped
2 Bananas, sliced
1 cup freshly squeezed Orange Juice (about 4 Oranges)
1/2 cup of Honey, warmed slightly.
2 12 oz cans of Sprite
Directions
Sparkling Fruit Salad
1. In a very large bowl combine all of the fruit and mix until combined.
2. Add the orange juice and the honey and mix until combined and every bit of the fruit has some honey on it. Add more honey if need be.
3. Chill for at least two hours covered in the refrigerator, so that flavors combine.
4. Add the Sprite to the salad just before serving.
Additional Information
If you do not have a crowd to please for brunch please feel free to decrease the amount of fruit used.
Make sure you use enough honey, that is the most important part. If the fruit is especially big don't hesitate to add more until every bit of fruit is covered.
Feel free to use two large bowls instead of one very large bowl and simply divide the ingredients.
Again this is a very adaptable recipe. Use whatever fruit is in season or what you have on hand. Some canned fruit such as pineapple and mandarin oranges will work well in this recipe. You could even use the pineapple juice from a can in place of the orange juice here. Avoid softer canned fruits such as peaches or pears.
To keep the apples from turning brown pour some lemon juice or some of the Sprite over them right after chopping and coring them. You can avoid doing this if you put the apples in the salad last and immediately add the orange juice.
Deconstructed Brunch Salad
Yield: 4
Inactive time: 2 Hours
Active time (prep and cook): 30 Minutes
Marinated Feta Cheese
4 ounces Marinated Feta Cheese
1 tsp chopped Garlic
1 dozen black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
Avocado oil
Salad
2 large romaine hearts
4 lemons, halved
1 avocado, sliced with the pit removed
1 bunch Italian Parsley
1 bunch Cilantro
1 bunch Fresh Mint
3 large Carrots, shredded
3 hard boiled Eggs, peeled and halved
Garlic Salt
Black Pepper
Avocado Oil
Directions
Marinated Feta
1. In a small container with a lid mix feta with the garlic and peppercorns. Pour enough avocado oil to cover the cheese. Cover and refrigerate for two hours or up to overnight.
Salad
1. Wash the lettuce thoroughly. After every bit of dirt has been removed cut off the stem about two inches up and lay the leaves on a nice platter like a fan. Create whatever fun postmodern presentation you think is appealing.
2, Squeeze the juice from one lemon over the lettuce leaves. Add the sliced avocado throwing it creatively onto the platter. Place the carrot sticks at the bottom of the tray along with the boiled eggs. Add the cheese, tossing a spoonful at a time sporadically.
3. Add the chopped herbs, letting them rain all over the tray. Put the remaining lemons at the base of the tray with the carrots and eggs. Drizzle avocado oil over the salad. Sprinkle liberally with garlic salt and pepper.
4. Serve either making tacos out of the leaves or with some nice warm French Bread from the oven.
Additional Information
Brunch is about adaptation. This is another great recipe that can be adapted to your tastes. Use the vegetables and herbs you like and have on hand.
This can be eaten as wraps or taco style or it's great with toast, French bread, or English muffins.
Brunch Sausages and Peppers
Yield: 8
Active time (prep and cook): 50 Minutes
Brunch Sausages and Peppers
8 Sweet Italian Sausage Links
2 tbsp Avocado oil
3 Bell Peppers, sliced into strips
1 heaping tbsp of chopped Garlic
2 cups Chicken Stock
1/2 cup Beer
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 red pepper flakes
Lawry's Seasoning Salt
Directions
Brunch Sausages and Peppers
1. Heat the oil over 300 degree heat in an electric skillet with a lid. When the oil is hot add the sausages and brown then on both sides. This should take about 3 minutes on each side. When the sausages are browned, remove from the pan and set aside.
2. Increase the heat to high and add the bell peppers. Toss so that they they are totally covered by the drippings in the pan. Season with Lawry's Seasoning Salt. Once the peppers start to char, add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
3. Add the beer. Scrape up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Cook for two minutes.
4. Add the stock, Italian Seasoning, and red pepper flakes and stir well to combine. Add the sausages. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer and cover until the peppers are soft and the sausages are cooked through, about 20 minutes.
Additional Information
Again a super adaptable recipe. A can of whole tomatoes would go nicely with this or some mushrooms. Use what you have!
You can serve this over some rice or with some nice mashed potatoes, as is with some brown mustard on the side, with eggs, or in a hoagie roll. The possibilities here are endless!
Butter works just as good as oil for this recipe.
Perfect Banana Bread
Yield: 1 Loaf
Active time (prep and cook): 1 Hour and 40 Minutes
Perfect Banana Bread
Pam
1/2 cup Avocado Oil
1 3/4 cups all-purpose Flour, plus more for greasing pan
1 cup slightly crushed Walnuts
1/2 cup White Sugar
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup Buttermilk
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp Imitation Vanilla Extract
4 very ripe Bananas, mashed
Directions
Perfect Banana Bread
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a 9x5 inch bread pan.
2. Whisk together the flour, walnuts, white sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. In a separate medium bowl whisk together the eggs, oil, buttermilk, brown sugar and vanilla. Mix the dry and the wet ingredients together. until just combined. Gently fold in the mashed bananas. Don't mix too much.
3. Pour the batter into the greased pan and lightly tap the pan on the counter to make sure it's all even. Bake until browned and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This should take about an hour and 10 minutes. Let the bread cool for 10 minutes in the ban, then turn onto a rack to cool completely.
4. Serve with margarine.
Additional Information
This can easily be made nut free, just exclude the walnuts.
A note on the nuts. Buy whole and crush them yourself. I like a little bigger chunk of walnut in my banana bread.
Sour cream or plain yogurt can be used in place of buttermilk.
I think margarine goes best with banana bread. Butter is fine so is jam if that is more to your liking.
Cooking times will change based on altitude, check the bread after 1 hour.
Your bananas should be almost rotten for the best taste, but you can use fresh ones too if you need be, but it works better the more ripe the bananas are.
I was using avocado oil, but use any oil you like to use.
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