PERFECTION!

by Asta Dido

Great Inventions are often (as this is the case) stumbled upon!

Allow me to share this little tale with you. As you might, or might not, know me, as a rule, I am not a "drinker" but, neither am I a "teetotaler." Normally, like many American’s, I prefer Pepsi and colas to the taste of Alcoholic Beverages and besides, as I always say "I can't afford to drink!" and that’s especially true in today’s economy. Any restaurant depending on me to buy a bottle of wine to survive would profit not and best turn to making a great cup of coffee. One would have to put a gun to my head to buy bottled water in a city the Dutch called New Amsterdam that has the greatest water in the world right out your kitchen tap.

I've lost the taste for beer, wine and mixed drinks and I am in that class that can no longer afford to go to bars which is part of the reason for that taste loss. I do, however, keep some Vodka, Gin and such around for emergencies, guests and the ladies when and if I hope to get and can get lucky and soften the mood and that 's all; never, never any "funny stuff!" We enjoy together or nothing, period! I believe, I am one of the last of a dying breed--a true gentlemen!

Being a bachelor and living alone food storage is a problem for me--ever try cooking for one—portion sizes make this impossible and there are always leftovers and because I love to cook and I am real good at it; if not gourmet, at least gourmand. I would rather watch Jacque Pipan and Lydia’s Italian Cooking show on PBS than football and baseball; I prefer my  viewing to be meatballs and spaghetti in a savory sauce. Speaking of meatballs have you seen Met’s and Yankee pitching lately.

If you don't keep track of the food in your fridge, things there can become quite funky, rotsie totsie, moldy and smelly!!! This is where I got the idea to save some juices and liquids by adding Vodka as a preservative. I said to myself "what the heck are you doing? And, "let me taste this before I dump it down the toilet!" Then a wonderful taste sensation hit my mouth--it was a perfect BLOODY MARY-- it was perfection incarnate! As in science, if you can't duplicate and triplicate results it is just an accident and totally useless! This, my reader friends, ended by not being an accident…

Well, I am not going to share my "invention" with the world; like Coke and Dr. Pepper I will keep the ingredients and the process secret. I can and do replicate the PERFECT BLOODY MARY  as often as I wish and keep it in my epicurean  pocket with my father's secret Pulpo, Lemon Chicken recipies and the most delicious thing on this planet or the Universe--his Tomato, Basil and Garlic Salad...

 "Mangiate, bevete (aqua) e siate felici!"

 Asta Dido

 PS, I dislike V-8 and don’t use Tomato Juice in my recipe. Figure that one out!