The best hangover cure - Frittata and Hair-of-the-Dog Bloody Mary

I know I promised a month of healthy, low-calorie food for the ever dieting audience… but sometimes you need to feel a little sorry for yourself.

I don’t know about you but if I had one to many the night before, all I can think of the next day is comfort food, something rich, delicious and preferably warm.  .  And I wake up ravenous Hangover is the punishment for the good time but at least you can make it bearable by treating yourself to an ultimately feel good meal.    This meal works as breakfast, lunch or dinner or whenever you might happen to wake-up.  It takes minimum effort, fifteen minutes to cook, because who wants to slave in the kitchen when your legs feel like jello and a headache the size of Texas.  And you don’t’ need to go shopping, chances are you have most of the ingredients in the house already and if you don’t the substitutions are endless.  So stay in your pajamas, wallow in self-pity and enjoy, preferably with a little Hair-of-the- Dog (recipe below).

“Raid your Fridge” Frittata

7 large eggs

½ cup of milk

2 tbs butter

½ cup of ham (or sausage or bacon or any combination of any meat you may have in the house).  What the hell, make it a full cup.  Chop as even cubes as you can manage in your delicate condition.

1 cup of “melty” cheese.  Any well melting cheese would do.  I had smoked aged cheddar, but you can use fontina, mozzarella, whatever…

3 tbs of grated parmesan

Tomatoes, peppers, fresh herbs or any vegetables on hand that can be cut into cubes  up and sautéed in a few minutes.

1 tsp of harissa or hot sauce (optional)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375F.  Heat a non-stick, oven-safe skillet with 1 tbs of butter and brown whatever meat you are using. ( If using bacon, it would be a good idea to pre-cook it and drain the fat).  Add the cut up vegetables and cook for another 2 min on med-high heat.  In the meantime, whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and harrisa ( or hot sauce).    Add another tablespoon of butter to the skillet and wait until it is melted.  Make sure all ingredients are evenly distributed on the surface before poring the eggs.  Pour the egg mixture and lower the heat to med-low.  Cook the eggs for a few minutes, gently loosening the sides and the bottom with a spatula.   When the edges begin to set, add all the melty cheese, herbs, and sprinkle with parmesan.  Bake in the oven for 10 min or until the middle is set and the cheese is fully melted.  You can broil the Frittata for 1 min at the end to get a nice brown cheese crust.

Serve with a simple salad to make yourself feel better about all the calories.  Don’t forget the most important part of the meal:  Hair-of-the-Dog Bloody Marry.

Hair-of-the-Dog Bloody Mary

1 ½ cups of V8 or Tomato Juice

½ cup of vodka ( more or less is up to you)

1 tbs worcestershire sauce

½ tsp of Tamari or Soy sauce

1 tsp of horseradish (fresh or preserved)

1 ½ tsp of hot sauce ( I like Asian hot sauce)

Squirt of lemon juice

Salt, pepper

Celery stalk for serving

Mix Tomato juice and all the ingredients except vodka.  Mix well and let stand for a few minutes before adding the vodka.  If you possess enough foresight, you may want to do this a night before and leave in the fridge overnight.  This way in the morning you just add the vodka and voala! ( Although how many of us really plan to get drunk?)

Serve over ice in a tall glass with a celery stalk.