Caesars / Bloody Mary Bar

It's Friday!! TGIF. Okay, the holidays are a great time for getting family and friends together.  And while cocktail parties and family dinners are fun, I think that brunches are one of the best parts of the season.  So that is why today's Cocktail Friday recipe is for a drink that is appropriate at anytime of day.

When you have a lot of people to please (as is often the case at this time of year), sometimes it is easier to let your guests DIY-it.  Rather than guessing what they like in their morning cocktail, set out a self-serve bar, with all the fixings for a delicious boozy brunch. (If you are worried that people might be a little heavy handed when pouring the vodka, feel free to premix it with the Clamato/tomato juice.)  Now, I realize that not everyone likes Caesars / Bloody Marys, so you could also put out some juices - orange, grapefruit, cranberry, pomegranate - and Champagne for mimosas!  And for the kids, you could do hot chocolate as well as juice. 

Next week, I have an amazing recipe for an elegant main dish your holiday brunch to share with you!

The Perfect Caesar / Bloody Mary Bar

Mott's Clamato Juice (for the Canadians) or Tomato Juice (for the Americans)
Vodka
Worchestershire Sauce
Prepared Horseradish
Hot Sauce - Cholula, Frank's, Tabasco, pick your favorite
Limes and lime juice
Montreal Steak Seasoning
Pickled Green Beans (Canadians - go for Matt and Steve's Extreme Beans)
Bacon*
Others: Celery, Pickled peppers,
Cute Straws for sipping

Let your guests mix their own to their preferred spice level!

*To cook your bacon, so it lays flat, start with a cold frying pan.  Lay the strips of bacon and cook, flipping often, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy and browned.