Just to the north of us, the state of Wisconsin is known for a lot more than just cheese and dairy.
On the potable beverages front, the Brandy Manhattan is a supper club staple, but, you have to see to believe the wonder that is the Wisconsin Bloody Mary, served with a side bottle of beer and topped with everything from celery to sausages to entire cheeseburgers and whatever else some enterprising pub owner can think of. I have not seen a Kringle on top, yet, but…
Rule nothing out when it comes to Wisconsin pub owners.
So, it came to pass that we were having folx over for a Sunday gathering, and knowing how fond some of them were of Bloody Marys, I picked up a bottle of a local mix at the market.
But…
I did not have my reading glasses onn me, and, when I got home, I learned that said local mix is not gluten free, so, no Bloody Marys then.
So the bottle sat in my garage staging area and then it was time for spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.
I normally add a can of lower sodium veggie juice to my doctored sauce to up the nutrition, but was out.
Hmmm… Bloody Mary Mix?
Genius move! And my best doctored sauce to date!
INGREDIENTS
•1 sweet onion, diced
•2 cups coleslaw blend
•1 tbsp peanut oil
•1 (24 oz) jar tomato sauce (your favorite)
•12 oz Bloody Mary Mix
•1 can diced tomatoes
•2 tbsp Sherry Peppers Sauce*
•1 tsp Cajun Power Spicy Garlic Pepper Sauce – or your fave hot sauce, to taste
•2 tbsp grated Parmesan
•1 tbsp sugar
•2 tbsp garlic chive cream cheese
•1/2 tsp onion powder
•1/2 tsp garlic powder
•1/2 tsp dried basil
•1/2 tsp dried thyme
•1/2 tsp dried oregano
•1/2 tsp dried parsley
•1/2 tsp red chili flakes
•1/2 tsp Seasoned Salt
•1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper
•1/2 tsp black pepper
•1/2 tsp Vadouvan French Masala Curry
•1 bay leaf
•1 tbsp sherry vinegar
•1 bag frozen meatballs
*No Sherry Peppers Sauce? No Problem! Simply add a bit of decent sherry (none of that “cooking” stuff) and a dash or three of your fave hot sauce, to taste.
Warm the oil in a large pot over medium high heat, then add the onion, coleslaw mix, Sherry Peppers and hot sauce and cook, stirring often, until the veggies are tender, about ten to fifteen minutes.
Stir in the jarred sauce, Bloody Mary Mix, tomatoes, and the remaining ingredients, except for the sherry vinegar and meatballs, reduce the heat, and simmer for about an hour or so.
Give it a taste, stir in the sherry vinegar and the meatballs and cook until heated through.
Wicked tasty.