Bloody Mary Brain

Whether you're an actual zombie or just play one on tv, this brain's for you. It's got all the complexity you love in a real bloody mary (including the vodka), just molded in brain form. Normally I make this into cubes that I loosely call "jello shots". But with my brain mold just gathering dust all year (relax, I washed it) and Halloween right around the corner, making a brain just seemed like the way to go. So if you plan on dressing up as the walking dead for your Halloween party this year, I recommend you make the ultimate prop and surprise your friends by eating an actual brain (use your hands, zombies aren't big on utensils or manners).

BLOODY MARY BRAIN

4 (1/4 oz.) envelopes Knox gelatin

3/4 cup water

4 cups tomato juice

3/4 cup vinegar

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

1 1/2 tablespoons drained bottled horseradish, or to taste

1 1/2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce, or to taste

1 teaspoon hot sauce (like Tabasco), or to taste

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

9 oz. vodka (1 cup + 2 tablespoons)

1.          Mix gelatin and water in a 2-cup measuring cup; let congeal in refrigerator.

2.          Combine the remaining ingredients (except the vodka) in a saucepan and heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add congealed gelatin and stir well until gelatin is dissolved. Add vodka.

3.          Pour into a large brain mold* and chill until firm, about 6 hours (even better, overnight).

4.          Unmold gently. If you have any trouble, just run a little warm water over the sides first.

5.          Serve cold, preferably over ice (it will begin to melt if too warm). 

*For jello shots:

Pour the bloody mary mixture into little plastic shot glasses and chill until firm. Or pour into a lightly oiled, large, shallow baking pan and chill until firm, then cut into cubes.

pouring gelatin in the water

gelatin congealed

adding celery salt to the tomato juice
(everything else, except the vodka, is already added)

measuring the vodka

I don't recommend adding any more than
the recipe calls for (otherwise it might not set).
Also, if you think my measuring cup looks dirty,
that's because it's the same one the gelatin was in.

everything added

brain mold

It's a good idea to wrap a towel around the
bottom so it doesn't tip over while you're filling it.

brain mold filled

I recommend keeping the towel around
the bottom in the refrigerator too.

bloody mary brain, unmolded and being dissected

It also makes a nice prop for anyone dressing up as a doctor.

I had about 1 cup leftover, so I poured it into a
ramekin so I could cut it into little "jello shots".

bloody mary jello shots

If you follow the recipe as is, these are pretty spicy.

I also made a cranberry-orange brain (that's
right, I'm the proud owner of two brain molds).
It was okay, but I wasn't blown away by it.

cranberry orange brain
(I think this is the occipital lobe view.)

Side note to you zombies: The best flavor is in the frontal lobe.

.