{Super Bowl Series} Jacked-Up Bloody Mary

Welcome to the Twenty-Something's Table Super Bowl Series! We hope the recipes to follow in the coming week help you become the hit of your party on Sunday.

{Confession:  We aren't huge football fans but we support any excuse to get together with friends, drink beer, cheer obscenely, and eat delicious food.}

There is no better way to "kick-off" Super Bowl Sunday than with a Bloody Mary... and bacon. That's right, BACON. If you are hosting or cooking Sunday morning you are going to need one of these bad boys/girls. Bethany and I got our cooking extravaganza off to a delicious start with a couple of these Jacked-Up Bloody Marys (really they are just a little more fancy but Jacked-Up sounds so much more football). By using what we had in our refrigerators, left over bacon from a Super Bowl recipe, and marinating our own vodka we saved some money making this savory drink. Cheers!

Beth & Whit's Jacked-Up Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary mix or tomato juice
1 liter Vodka
2 jalapeños
3 cloves of garlic
Worcestershire sauce
Tabasco sauce

1/2 Tbls celery salt

1/2 Tbls lemon pepper

1 Lime
Black pepper
Pickles
Green olives
Pickled anything
Bacon

Marinate your vodka the day before using whatever ingredients you like best; peppers and garlic add the most flavor and basil can add a zesty flare when it is in season. Place vodka and flavorings in an airtight container for up to three days.   After desired taste is acquired separate the vodka from the seasonings with a strainer, label and store.

Fry a strip of bacon for each Bloody Mary in a pan over medium heat; let bacon cool and dry on paper towel.

Combine celery salt and lemon pepper in a bowl, spread evenly in a circular pattern on a plate.  Using whatever size glass you deem appropriate, rim it with lime juice by running a fresh cut slice around the top edge. Press the rim into the seasonings and cover evenly. Fill glass with ice.

I'm going to assume this isn't your first rodeo and you know how to make yourself a drink, after all you are a twenty-something.  Combine desired ratio of tomato juice/mix and flavored vodka in a shaker.  Add a few dashes Worcestershire and tabasco, a squeeze of lime, and sprinkle of black pepper (I also like to add a splash of olive and pickle juice, seems gross but I guarantee it is subtly delicious).  Shake well.  Poor into your fancy salt-rimmed glass. Toothpick desired toppings and add to drink.  We used (homemade) pickled asparagus, lime, olives, and pickles because that is what we found in the fridge.  Pepper jack cheese, beef sticks, shrimp, and the classic celery can be wonderful additions as well.

Give the drink a final stir with your strip of bacon and enjoy!

Here's to a great excuse to make a Bloody Mary!
Cheers and much football love-

Whitney