#HappyHourClub 05 / Cheese Pizza Bloody Mary

Happy Cheese Pizza Day! Wait, you didn't know there's an actual cheese pizza day? Shame on you! Obviously I couldn't pass up this chance to create a Bloody Mary worthy of this obscure holiday—especially since my man sports a pizza tattoo. The best part about this deliciousness? It's easy-peasy to make. This recipe makes for a happy weekend!

#HappyHourClub 05 / Cheese Pizza Bloody Mary

Any excuse to have pizza and we’re there. Luckily the obscure Cheese Pizza Day, a holiday which means cocktail time in my world. There are so many crazy Bloody Marys out there so why not create one with a slice of cheese pizza? For this creation, KC Cooper Sears and I hit our favorite Downtown LA joint, Pizzanista! The pizza is nice and thin, perfect for this garnish. Since the slice is the star of this drink, be sure to pick your favorite pizza pie to feature. Let’s dive into the recipe:

Ingredients

• Cheese Pizza Slice (if you’re adventurous try one with toppings but don’t be surprised if they fall into the drink)
• Jalapeno Infused Vodka (jalapenos + vodka)
• V8 Spicy Hot 100% Vegetable Juice
• Celery (for garnish)
• Applewood Smoked Sea Salt
• Lemon
• Caperberries (for garnish)

The Infusion:

KC is no stranger to making spicy infusions. Remember yesterday’s Hot Off The Press? For this one, you’ll need a sterilized Mason jar, your favorite vodka and about a dozen fresh jalapenos. Place jalapenos in jar and pour in vodka. Let it infuse for a week but if you’re patient like KC, try to hold out for 6 months.

The Drink:

Before we get started, be sure to select a glass that has a wide rim so you can place your garnish properly without it consuming your entire drink. It’s all about balance. Either a hurricane glass, stein glass or a pint glass will work nicely. Pour the applewood smoked sea salt onto a small plate. Slice up your lemon and rub the juicy side of the wedge along the lip of the glass. Roll the outer edge of the glass until fully coated. Fill with ice and set aside. Squeeze the lemon into your shaker. Add 2 oz of jalapeno infused vodka, 4 oz of V8 Spicy Hot and fill with ice. Shake gently and strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with your celery stalk, a single caperberry and a thinly cut sliced of cheese pizza. Having the cheese pizza slice adds for a nice nosh if you’ve got a brutal hangover from the night before.

Special thanks to KC Cooper Sears for helping me style that bad boy. It’s a challenge to get a nice thinly slice of cheese pizza on a skewer stick!