A Well Dressed Bloody Mary..not just for breakfast anymore! 

One question that I get asked a lot is about my “Bloody Mary Bars”, which I like to throw together for a brunch, shower, or a  planned “impromptu gathering” with college students, the Bloody Mary Bar…on the move .  I’ve done it several ways, be it a tad more fancy for the showers I’ve helped throw, or more casual for an afternoon of malarkey with Meredith and the Dunn Hunnies, or while pre-gaming before massages with Critical Discussion. Because I’ve referred to them, often, in my blog, and have posted many pictures, it has made way for the question, “Ok, give it up.  What is In that Bloody Mary bar?”.  So, ask (Carol!) and you shall receive…And I’m speaking of giving it up about the Bloody Mary Bar. 😉

Makings of Terry’s Bloody Mary Bar

Vodka – Grey Goose and Tito’s – I need to have Tito’s since it’s Gluten Free, and I have friend’s who need gluten-free

Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix – my favorite, hands down.  My friend Kim turned me on to this, and it’s far superior to the Mrs. T mix.

Worcester Sauce

Celery Salt

Lemons and Limes (though I prefer Lemons)

Tabasco

Horse Radish

Pepper- fresh ground or cayenne

For the Skewers and Garnish

Celery Stalk

Olives

Shrimp

Pickles

Salami

Pepperoni

Pepperoncini

Bacon – cooked well.  Use thick bacon, as it rocks!

Cubes of cheese

DIRECTIONS – I usually make the first for someone,  if needed, then they make their second, third, and so on and so forth.

I first rim the glass with either celery salt, or a Bloody Mary salt mix, similar to pic above.  You swipe lemon around the rim, then place glass upside down in a shallow dish, with celery salt, or salted mix.

Fill Tall glass with ice.  Mason Jars make Great Bloody Mary glasses, or other Tall glasses…you can’t use a rocks glass, because you will be putting ice, mix, vodka, and a skewer with many yummy things in it, so you really need a Tall glass.   Trust me on this.

Pour Bloody Mary mix into glass… I fill it 2/3 full

Pour in Vodka – amount is up to you, or your guest. 🙂  I put in one shot, and they can add more if they wish.

Squeeze in lemon wedge; put 4 shakes of Worcester sauce; 1 shot (a shake, not shot glass, btw)  of Tabasco; shake in celery salt. One or two shakes of celery salt, will do.  Shake, shake, shake some black or cayenne pepper on the top.

Skewers – Cheese, Salami, Lemon, olives (black and green) and shrimp…but what you put on the skewer is up to you.  I like when it looks like a salad.

Pop skewer in glass, and add celery stalk, and Bacon (the new black).

Enjoy!

 

 

 

This started the “impromptu” Bloody May bar, because I literally threw it together within minutes…with things I happened to have on hand…and nothing too terribly exotic, either.

 

The Traveling Bloody Mar bar…Bloody Mary Bar on the Move, while  visiting Mer and the Dunn Hunnies at Indiana University.

 

 

A few bottles of Veuve provide a lovely complement to a Bloody Mary bar for a shower brunch, as being showcased by Steph!  And speaking of Steph…this is her take, which I have to share (hence, an edited blog): I also recently found some other great skewer items. Heinens has Tomolives. Pickled green tomatoes. Yum. And pickled Brussels sprouts for some cruciferous crunch. Don’t forget to cayenne/candy the bacon slabs with a mixture of brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne. Finally….red pepper flakes aka KP!! Happy Memorial Day. I will be making some this weekend. In Canada we use Clamato Juice and they are called Bloody Caesars. Cheers!

I used a Waterford bowl for ice, and Waterford snifters for pepperoncini, and other Crystal bowls, candy jars, etc, for the other accoutrements…to give this bar a more “elegant” feel for the bridal showers we’ve thrown.

 

The college students weren’t looking for elegance…just booze. 🙂  “It may be the booze talking, but we want more booze”. 🙂

Go Big or Go Home… Other Accouterments from With a Southern Twist

Old Bay Seasoning

Kosher Salt

Pepper

Bloody Mary Seasoning

Celery Salt

Jerk Seasoning

Steak Seasoning

Bacon Salt

Jerk Sauce

BBQ Sauce (two choices)

Hot Sauces (five choices)

A1 Steak Sauce (two choices)

Worcestershire

Clam Juice

Pickles

Banana Peppers

Pepperoncini

Pickled Green Beans/Veggies

Horseradish

Wasabi

Limes and Lemons

Cherry Tomatoes

Radishes

Carrots

Boiled or Grilled Shrimp

Beef Sticks and Jerky

Crispy Bacon

Pepperoni

Cheese Curds

Orange Juice

Stuffed Olives (a variety)

 

Bloody Mary Bars that put mine to shame

 

 

 

 

Stuffed Olives!  Make sure the olives you use, have no pits.

These are Great Skewers to use, but it doesn’t have to be this complicated.  Nor does anything else, in life. 🙂

You know what’s complicated?  The Blackhawks losing at home!  I always expect my Chicago teams to win…and am always shocked and saddened when they lose, especially when I, along with the kids in tow, are in attendance.  So sad.  Couple that, with an “impromptu meeting” of Tracy and Simon, and my expectations for the best night ever, were in full force.  It still was a great night, but a horrible outcome.

 

 

Yes, probably not the most practical shoes to wear to a sporting event, (Mer not Paddy), but they stayed on her feet all night, and she never complained, not even once!

A very rare Selfie.

Tracy clearly had no idea it was time to pose for a pic… Seriously, this totally makes me laugh!

 

 

This is a horrible picture of me, but Tracy looks great, so she gets a shout out.  #selflessfriend  #savvyisthenewblack #nostepstoolrequired

Song of the Day, “Chelsea Dagger” by the Fratellis…the “Blackhawks Goal song”!

Memorial Day Weekend… best weekend of the year, and always the start of the Best. Summer. Ever.

Cheers!… and Go Hawks!

xoxo,

T.