Saturday Night Sangria

Saturday night I invited two of my neighbors Gus & Wally and a friend of mine Marc over for dinner. Now Gus & Wally really like Sangria – but they are not really "drinkers". Add to the mixture that Marc is a vegetarian (with the exception of dairy and fish) and Wally doesn't like 99% of seafood. So I came up with the following menu:

Sparkling Sangria
Decadent Caesar Salad
Pesto Olive Garlic Bread
Lasagna di Livorno

Gus & Wally brought Italian desserts from a local establishment….Tiramisu and Cannoli's. I also made Coffee to go with the dessert. I was going to make Praline Coffee but my coffee maker decided to pitch a fit and explode…so I had to improvise with just a regular blend….it worked out wonderfully.

Sparkling Sangria

1 – 750ml Bottle of Prosecco
1 Pint – Pomegranate Juice
1 Cup – Orange/Pineapple Juice
1 Cup – Limeade
1 – Orange – Sliced into Quarters
2 – Limes – Sliced into Half Slivers
Pomegranate Seeds for garnish.
Orange Slice for garnish.

In a glass pitcher, place the oranges and limes. Pour Prosecco into pitcher and blend in the pomegranate, orange and limeade juices. Chill for at least 1 hour. Put Pomegranate Seeds in bottom of large glasses and then fill with ice – pour in the Sangria. Very refreshing!

As for the salad, I used my Caesar Salad Dressing that was previously posted – the only changes I made were that I added the extra juice of one lemon and instead of Anchovy Paste – I finely chopped a tin of Anchovies and mixed them by hand into the dressing. As for the components of the salad – I used what I had on hand…Romaine Lettuce, Croutons, Parmesan Cheese, Kalamata Olives, Radishes, Artichoke Hearts, Shallots, Alfalfa Sprouts, 1/2 Tsp of Celery Seed (mashed with a mortar and pestle) and Bacon (cut into 1 inch pieces for those of us that eat meat).

The bread and lasagna recipes are in separate posts.

Ah....A Good Bloody Mary

Now I know that I have been talking about fresh ingredients and limiting prepared food items, yada yada yada.  But it is Saturday and I wanted a Bloody Mary.  When I lived up in New England, my good friend Jim would often prepare a pitcher of Bloody Mary's from scratch and I intend on working on a great recipe for that....however, in the interim, I will just be using the one that I know.

I took a picture this time - not the greatest picture - I have to get more familiar with the camera.  I just bought it from a neighbor yesterday!  So bear with me.  And now I have already drunk half the evidence...lol.  I promise I will only have the one, okay maybe two!

Bloody Mary

2 Wedges of Lime
2 Shots of Vodka
1 Shot of Bold & Spicy Mr. & Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix
2 Shots of Regular Mr. & Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix
1/4 Tsp - Celery Seed
1/8 Tsp - Horseradish
3 Dashes - Hot Sauce (I usually use Texas Pete's for these - but whichever you prefer)
2 Dashes - Worcestershire Sauce
Dash of Kosher Salt
Dash of Fresh Ground Pepper
1 Stalk of Celery (trimmed)

Take a cocktail shaker and fill it 1/2 to 3/4 full of ice.  Squeeze the juice and place one wedge of lime into the shaker (you can also use lemon and/or a combination of lemon and lime).  Pour in the shots of the Vodka and the Bloody Mary Mix.  Sprinkle in the Celery Seed, spoon in the horseradish (and if you really like horseradish - use more), the hot sauce, Worcestershire and put in the salt and pepper.  Shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds.  (See a great cocktail and exercise too....who knew?)

Fill a nice tall glass with ice.  Put in your stalk of celery and pour the drink mix through the strainer in the top of the shaker into the glass...garnish with lime.  (Again if you only have lemon - works too...sometimes I use both and I have even been known to throw in an olive from time to time).  But I think the lime works best and just the simple stalk of celery.

This makes a full drink and leaves a little left over to refresh it about half way through...I know I know...But I only had two (total)...I promise!

Have a great weekend everybody!