Why hello there, Wednesday.
Sometimes you are real–so very real.
Keeping the work week (and reality) in check.
Recently.
On a Monday, actually–I had the pleasure of reconnecting with a good friend who I had not seen in long time. By my estimations it has been close to 3 years. While it was a “I-am-passin’-thru-over-night-on-my-way-back-to-FLA” type of situation I am so glad you did.
You left me with a good deal to think about + my guess you don’t even know it.
Of everything we talked about the biggest, best, most stupendous you left me with was your monthly-I-am-gonna-set-a-damn-goal-and-fucking-make-sure-it-happens list.
No, it’s not new to me.
But sometimes life gets busy, we get overwhelmed, under-inspired + maybe even a little lost from what we need/want.
You’ve inspired me.
Because of you I made a list-for the first time in years.
Starting with June.
On my chalkboard painted cabinets in the kitchen.
Where every morning, every evening, every damn time I walk into the kitchen – I got those little bastards: goals, staring right back at me. Reminding me that while you may not get to each + every single one of them each month there’s a world of possibilities that you’ve yet to fine-tune your focus towards.
It comes with time.
Save them.
So that whenever you’re feeling less than par or completely fucked up:
Pull ‘em out, look at ‘em, remember each + every dang step of the way. It’s called accomplishment.
And it is just for you.
So in honor of good things headed y’alls way.
I got this thing here to celebrate.
Let’s cheers to the good fuckin’ things about ourselves + the accomplishments nobody sees.
Let’s fine-tune our damn attitudes about each other, ourselves + towards life.
Let’s just drink the damn drink, shall we?
It’s involved.
Just like this blog post.
So if y’all ain’t in it, move along.
Fire-roasted Blood Marys
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: yeah, there’s a cook time. Trust me on this one.
Yield: 8-10 servings of homemade bloody mary mix
12 ounces Classic V-8
1—28 ounce can of crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
1 cup water
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ spring onion, chopped
4 halves sundried tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp prepared horseradish
1 tsp fennel seeds, ground
1 tsp Hungarian paprika
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
½ tsp cayenne pepper
2 arbol chiles, ground
1 bay leaf
small handful fresh tarragon, chopped
juice from 2 lemons
A few healthy dashes of Worcestershire sauce
salt + pepper to taste
In a 3 quart pot , over medium-high heat combine all the ingredients. Cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes until reduced by a third.
Do stir frequently.
Remove from heat + allow to cool about 20 minutes.
Break out the food processor and ladle, in small batches, blood mary mix.
Frappe until mixture is smooth—it will be a bit thick.
Note: please by all means, add a quarter cup of water to each batch to get it to the consistency y’all prefer.
Once the mix has cooled pour into a pitcher + refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
For the cocktail in question:
2 ounces vodka – here we used Tito’s
4 ounces y’all homemade bloody mary mix
½ ounce brine from any of the pickled accompaniments y’all prefer
Juice from 1 lemon
In a cocktail shaker or large quart-sized Mason jar if you’re me, shake all the ingredients well.
Strain into ice-filled a highball glass or pint size Mason jar.
Garnish, so only a true Southern would, with pickled okra, pickled green tomatoes, fresh red cherry or grape tomatoes. And as for the olives, only the best will do: pitted Castelvetrano olives.
And that my friends, is how we celebrate our Wednesdays.
Cheers!