Giving thanks with a little libation Southerners love. The Bloody Mary is the drink of choice for many imbiber enthusiasts. It can be enjoyed at brunch and pairs great with fall football weather. Creating your own Bloody Mary Bar is a great addition to any daytime soiree or football viewing party. Just imagine alongside those celery sticks and olives glass containers full of shrimp, crab claws, bacon and an array of hot sauces. MyScoop tells you how to Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar and gives you a recipe to make your own fresh Bloody Mary Mixture.
Homemade Bloody Mary
- 6 pounds ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped
- 6 celery ribs, coarsely chopped
- 2 cups very coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley sprigs (from 1 large bunch)
- 2 tablespoons fine sea salt, divided
- 2 1/2 Tbsp ground black pepper
- 2 1/2 to 3 Tbsp bottled horseradish
- 2 1/2 to 3 tsp Tabasco
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Lemon wedges for rims of glasses
- Salt mixture (see below for ideas)
- Vodka
- Toppings (see below for ideas)
Directions:
Purée tomatoes, celery, parsley, and 1 tablespoon sea salt in several batches in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and chill at least 1 hour. Force through a food mill or medium-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids (you’ll have about 10 cups juice). Add horseradish, Tabasco, and lemon juice. Remember if you let the Bloddy Mary Mixture set overnight, the mixture will meld together and absorb the spices and flavors better.
Too much work? May we simply suggest Zing Zang or McClure’s Spicy Bloody Mary Mix.
To serve, slice lemon wedge and slide around the edge of an 8 oz glass, then dip into salt (see below for salt ideas) and twist. Fill the glass to the top with ice. Add 2 ounces vodka then top with Bloody Mary Mixture and garnish.
Salt Ideas:
You can create your own salts which is very easy to do. For instance a Paprika salt can be made by using 1 Tbsp Paprika, 1 Tbsp Kosher Salt, or for a Jalapeno Salt 1 Tbsp Jalapeno powder, 1 Tbsp Kosher salt. You simply use equals parts flavoring spice to equal parts Kosher salt. You can sit the salts out in small dishes besides your toppings.
Toppings For Your Bloody Mary Bar:
The most fun part of your Bloody Mary bar is your toppings. In glass containers you can sit each garnish out making a colorful, delicious display that is sure to win over guests.
Celery
Cooked Shrimp
Pickled Asapragus
Olives
Pickles
Cooked Crab Claws
Bacon
Banana Peppers
Pickled Green Tomatoes
Lemons
Limes
Tabasco
Any kind of hot sauce!
Bottoms up on that beautiful drink that is more like a colorful salad than a libation!