Three-hour Ketchup with an Unexpected Surprise

So this afternoon I decided to pull out my Michael Symon cookbook and attempt to make one of my favorite condiments.....Lola Ketchup aka Michael Symon's Spicy Ketchup.   I first had this wonderful concoction at Lola in Tremont, Ohio. (Tremont was the original location of Lola.  Lola was relocated to downtown Cleveland in 2005 and the Tremont location became Lolita.) It was love at first dip!  The texture is wonderful and the taste is amazing.  When I used to live in Cleveland, you could actual purchase this delicious concoction at Heinen's Super Markets.  However, when Pat and I moved to Orlando in 2004, my favorite condiment was no longer available to me.  Although I had occasionally purchased a few bottles upon return visits to Cleveland, there was a void in my condiment options.

You could only imagine my chagrin when I discovered that in Michael's cookbook was the uber delicious recipe for his Spicy Ketchup.  So, I did what I do best, I tied on the apron and went to work making one of the best condiments around.  Although I did not fully realize the recipe was a 3 hour labor of love, I dove in around 4:00 pm yesterday afternoon.  I decided to make buffalo burgers and sweet potato fries fro dinner in honor of the beloved condiment.  I must say, the meal was heavenly!

The best part of the process was the unexpected surprise.  At the end of the long slow simmer, once cooled, the ketchup is pureed in a blender and then strained before storing.  After straining, I realized that I had 4 cups of spicy tomato-infused water left!  I thought about the liquid while I enjoyed my delicious ketchup-coated meal, and decided that the liquid would make wonderful cocktails.  Vodka would be this liquids new best friend.  I remembered that I had a cocktail recipe for a BLTini.  (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Martini)  The reparation for this Martini involved creating tomato water using tomatoes.  a long, drawn-out process.  One you have the tomato water, you mix with vodka, shake with ice, and pour into your favorite martini glass so it can be garnished with crispy bacon and julienne lettuce.  So here I am with 4 cups of delicious spicy tomato water that can be created into a even better drink, a SPICY BLTini!  Or, if you would like, you can freeze the liquid into ice cubes and use them later or as the ice for a mean bloody mary!

So, one might ask, why on earth would you spend three hours making ketchup?  Well, the answer is quite simple....it is so much more than just the best ketchup I have ever eaten.  It is also a miracle base for other sauces, such as BBQ, can be used on top of meatloaf instead of the standard plain ketchup, and of course the added surprise of a wonderful drink mix!

So why not give Michael's Spicy Ketchup recipe a whirl?  I attached a link to the recipe, should you feel the urge.  But beware, it is highly addicting!

P.S.  This is what Leo does while I cook.