All Hail the Bloody Mary

As I have been away from this blog for many moons, I thought it was time to get back into the swing of things and what better way than to pay homage to the greatest mixed drink of all time: The Bloody Mary. Although I tend not to favor mixed drinks (just some plain ol’ gin over ice w/ a lime, for this gal), the Bloody Mary is an exception as well as one of my favorite drinks on the planet. Plus, if you turn a blind eye to the sodium (or just drink it after a hefty workout), it’s a relatively salubrious cocktail. It’s significantly lower in calories than most (i.e. margarita, daiquiri, gin-n-tonic, etc.), it has Vitamin C, lycopene, potassium, fiber and if you get one from Union Jack’s Pub in Indy, it comes with added protein! And it would be an absolute sin not to mention the Bloody Mary is the ultimate antidote for a hangover.

When doing my Indy commute from Louisville, there are two things I love to do on Saturday and Sunday mornings: 1) Partner up with my favorite cyclist/lawyer and ride the Indianapolis Monon and Cultural Trails http://www.indianatrails.org/Monon_Indy.htm http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/ and 2) Escort my favorite drinking partner/cyclist/lawyer to Union Jacks Pub http://www.unionjackpub-broadripple.com/ to watch Eurotrash Soccer or Rugby, accompanied by Bloody Marys and top notch pub grub. Jenn, the bartendress, makes THE best Bloody Marys in the world—even better than Harry’s in Paris. They consist of Jenn’s own secret recipe, which she claims “love” is one of her priority ingredients. They are accented with a seasoning salt rimmed glass and topped with olives, a lime wedge, big dill pickle, celery stalk and a shrimp. Dee-lish! I usually have it with their White Bean Chicken Chili and the Blues Burger which includes bleu cheese, sautéed onions and mushrooms. One must note to bring a pack of Trident to be used for post-consumption. And another added bonus is despite being a British pub, they actually make incredible pizzas.

So if you’re looking for the perfect version of the perfect post-workout cocktail, my utmost recommendation is Union Jacks, especially if you’re also in the mood for some sports action from across the pond. OR if you have a favorite Bloody Mary location, please let me know....I'm always on the lookout to try a new recipe!

Stars & Sprouts

So much for the Orionid Meteor Shower the other morning. I did catch about four good streaks before I realized my bed would be a much comfier (and warmer) place. It was brought to my attention that in Florida, it was too cloudy to see the sky but the warm weather and waves crashing on the ocean made up for it (thanks TS!) Although I'm still hoping for some unseasonable Texas or West African weather here in the Hoosier state, I really can't complain right now. Over the past few days, I was able to get in both a massive hike at the Deam in the Hoosier National Forest ( http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/recreation/ccdw.htm ) and a long bike ride on the Monon Trail in Indy ( http://www.indianatrails.org/Monon_Indy.htm ) I highly recommend both during this "leafy" season. Am including a great photo from my Deam hike.

Am looking forward to much of the same this weekend in addition to trying my first attempt at foie gras pate. Hope it works out!!

It seems one of my favorite veggies is now in-season and that is the loved/hated Brussel Sprout. I love them but have met many people in my time whom would rather eat roadkill than some brussels. However, for all you haters, please know that the Brussel has officially beaten out Broccoli as the healthiest veggie of all time!

Thought I might share my usual recipe (vegan) but accompany it with my naughtier version (not-so-vegan):

2 Cups Brussels de-stemmed and cut into quarters
1/2 Cup Chopped Onion
2 Cloves Garlic-chopped
Non-stick cooking spray (or several tablespoons olive oil for a more decadent version)
1/4 Cup Chopped Pecans
Soy Sauce
Cracked Black Pepper
Naughty Additions:
Although I prefer Serrano ham, it's not always easy to find, instead you can use several slices of lean smoked ham, chopped into pieces
I prefer Stilton Crumbles but any blue cheese will do.

Sautee Onion & Garlic on medium heat for several minutes in spray or olive oil. Add Brussel Srouts and sautee for a several minutes. DO NOT let them get too soft, only let them turn a slightly darker shade of green, so they stay crunchy and still retain a majority of their nutrients. Add pecans for a minute or two (you be the judge). If you decide to do the naughty version, add the ham bits for a minute or two. Remove from heat, add soy sauce/black pepper. If making the naughty version, let it all cool for a minute or two and then add the blue cheese.