Bloody Mary Mixer or Virgin Mary

I was invited to be on a neighborhood garden tour one summer. I had declined the invitation for a few summers in a row, because my garden is often more about production than beauty. But this particular summer I decided to take on the challenge. I made my garden presentable, invited over my friend Amy, and sat on the porch to wait for eager garden tourists. My husband decided we needed sustenance, so he mixed up some of these drinks, loaded them with dilly beans, pickles, and hunks of cheese. What a lovely day we spent sipping, socializing, and discussing the size of my squash.

photo: Katherine Brooks [www.katherinebrooksphotography.com]

4 cups coarsely chopped ripe fresh tomatoes
1 lime – zest and juice
1 lemon – zest and juice
2 Tablespoons grated horseradish – you can use bottled
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons pickle juice or olive brine – any kind you like
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon fresh grated black pepper
½ teaspoon chipotle puree or other hot sauce (optional)

• Put tomatoes in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.

• Strain juice through a mesh strainer to remove seeds and skin.

• Combine juice with all other ingredients.

Enjoy as a Virgin Mary juice or combine ½ cup mixer with 2 Tablespoons vodka. Garnish with dilly beans, pickled peppers, olives, lemon wedges, cheese chunks, celery stalks, or crisp bacon slices.

Download and print recipe.