The Perfect Bloody Mary

Nothing makes my day like a fantastic Bloody Mary. I could drink them morning, noon, and night. They complement all meals well and are delicious even without food. Whenever I go to a restaurant or bar I make it a priority to sample their Bloody Mary regardless of what's on the menu. Even if I ultimately switch to another beverage, this initial tasting is still crucial to me. Now that I am a mother, however, I don't get to leave the house to dine out as often as I'd like. So I have decided to take matters into my own hands and experiment at home to find the perfect Bloody Mary and share my creation with the world.

Here's my ultimate secret.....do not use any Bloody Mary mix. I have discovered something far more tasty-- and much healthier-- than Zing Zang or Mr. & Mrs. T. Using spicy V8 sets the foundation for creating the best Bloody Mary. Regardless of how you prefer your drink in terms of spice factor, it is necessary to use the spicy V8 for flavoring purposes. An added bonus: every eight ounce glass of spicy V8 [which is the standard amount we are using for this recipe] has TWO servings of fruit and vegetables. You can rest assured knowing you are getting half of your daily requirements from sipping on a vodka-based cocktail!

With that being said, this is a recipe and it is designed for you to alter and tweak as you see fit. Technically everything here is optional except for the V8 and the vodka but I suggest you try it all. I've given my specific ingredients for what I like so you can duplicate my results exactly. But no two tastes are the same and I encourage you to use this as a starting point for the Bloody Mary that best suits you. There are also modifications to make your Bloody Mary spicier and stronger. This recipe isn't particularly strong yet Bloody Mary's aren't designed to be super potent. Play around until you find what you want. And if you discover an amazing concoction, by all means, enlighten me.

This is what you'll need for one Bloody Mary:

-- 8 oz. of Spicy V8

-- 2 oz. of vodka [Three Olives Tomato flavored for a more robust taste or Absolut Peppar for a spicier flavor]

-- Pompeii lemon juice

-- Real Lime lime juice

-- Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce

-- Tabasco sauce [McIlhenny, the traditional tabasco pepper brand]

-- 3 Mazzio green olives

-- 2 pieces of Hormel pepperoni

-- 1 wedge of lime

-- Salt

-- Pepper

-- Corsely ground pepper in a pepper cracking device

-- Crushed ice

-- Toothpick [I had to improvise]

-- Pyrex measuring cup

-- Spoon

-- Large glass

Directions:

1) Place crushed ice in bottom of glass

2) Measure 2 oz of vodka in dish

3) Add 8 oz of Spicy V8 to have a total of 10 oz of liquid

4) Put 5 dashes of Worcestershire sauce into mix

5) Use 4 drops of of lime juice

6) Use 2 generous squirts of lemon juice [It is important to note her that lemon and lime juice do indeed take away from the spice of your Bloody Mary but I think are crucial for the flavoring.]

7) Add a large helping of Tabasco sauce

8) Grind your cracked pepper device one full roation to put pepper in the drink

9) Stir throroughly

10) Pour into glass and enjoy!

Garnishing the beverage is optional. Of course I would suggest doing so if you are using your Bloody Mary to entertain guests, but if you are just making one for you own consumption you it's really not necessary. Mix the salt and pepper together to rim the glass. Place olives, pepperoni, and lime wedge on toothpick and put into drink. Voila!