Fresh Bloody Marys made with fresh heirloom tomato Bloody Mary Mix.
The past week has been one great big whirlwind.
One I’d been dreaming about all summer long.
Finally, I had a chance to visit my friends, family, and home. I went back to New York. It was awesome to be near the water again, something I crave and miss all the time living in the Midwest.
There was a lot of food and fun, and there were markets. Also, I turned thirty-two. My nana made me meatballs. And then I visited my grandma, and she baked me a gluten-free cake, with sprinkles and store bought icing, exactly the way I like it. They are both the cutest.
Today, I’m heading back to the middle of the country. To see my husband and my cat, who both probably really need me to be home. And to my garden, that definitely needs me to be home because it’s literally exploding with tomatoes and eggplants and peppers. And, I’ve waited so long for this.
At the beginning of the summer, Renee and I dreamt up a party to celebrate the year’s finest produce. The late summer bounty. Rich with stone fruits and garden veg and herbs and residual berries. We invited all of our blogging friends. And #DRINKTHESUMMER was born.
Today there are thirty-eight {38!} of us bringing you some seasonally inspired drinks. Most of which are cocktails, because it’s that kind of party. But plenty can be adapted to be booze-free. When we planned this event back in June, I pictured using the tomatoes from my garden for fresh Bloody Marys. And this fresh Bloody Mary mix made with heirloom tomatoes is above and beyond a store bought mix. Add a little vodka, Old Bay seasoning and a spicy pickle and you’re gold.
Here is the complete list of party people. Check them all out. They’re awesome recipes, and really talented bloggers, and maybe you’ll find a new fave to follow.
Will Frolic for Food | The Sugar Hollow: Watermelon Gin Cocktail with Cardamom + Lime
Kale & Caramel | Sweet Coconut Hibiscus + Lime Slushie
Hummingbird High | Thyme Lemonade
Brooklyn Supper | Bloody Maria Cocktails
Cake Over Steak | Blackberry Bourbon Cocktail
Loves Food, Loves to Eat | Coconut Nectarine White Wine Spritzers
Dunk & Crumble | Ginger Peach Whiskey Smash
Tasty Yummies | When Figs Fly: Spiced Rum Fig Kombucha Cocktail
Feed Me Phoebe | Pimm’s Cup Cocktail with Fresh Ginger Lime + Tarragon
Earthy Feast | Strawberry Basil + Pink Peppercorn Negroni
Ginger & Toasted Sesame | Blackberry Peach Margarita with Spicy Salt
O&O Eats | The Long Hope: a Honeydew Cucumber Gin Cocktail
my name is yeh | Nutella Egg Cream
Faring Well | Sparkling Melon Coolers with Muddled Raspberries + Mint
Beard and Bonnet | Pineapple and Cilantro Moscow Mule
The Pancake Princess | Strawberry Balsamic Shrubs
Edible Perspective | Rosé Slushies
Vegetarian ‘Ventures | Sparkling Peppered Plum Blush
The Broken Bread | Blackberry Mint + Cucumber Gin Spritzer
Tending the Table | Plum Spritzer with Ginger + Kafir Lime
Appeasing a Food Geek | Sugar Plum Margarita
She Eats | Fizzy Lime + Blackberry Shrub
holly & flora | Pimm’s Cup with Blackberry + Lemon Zest Shrub
Vigor and Sage | Peachy Tomato Basil Gin + Tonic
The Pig & Quill | Raspberry Basil Gingerade Fizz
Hungry Girl por Vida | Peanut Butter + Berry Smoothie
A Brown Table | Fig + Bourbon Summer Smash
The Clever Carrot | 5 Minute White Peach Margaritas
Cookie and Kate | Watermelon Sangria
le jus d’orange | Peach Yogurt Soju + Ginger Plum Kombucha Cocktail
Chocolate + Marrow | Raspberry Thyme Smash
The Bojon Gourmet | Basil Pluot Pimm’s Cup
Snixy Kitchen | Sparkling Asian Pear + Mint Iced Tea
what’s cooking good looking | Watermelon Basil Colada
i am a food blog | Thyme Gin + Tonics
Fix Feast Flair | Berry Peachy Kentucky Mules
Salt & Wind | Watermelon Aperol Spritzes
Fresh Bloody Mary Mix
Ingredients
- 5 cups tomatoes diced
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- 2 teaspoons horseradish
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
- Blend the tomatoes in a blender until smooth.
- Run the mixture through a sieve, and then add in the cup of water.
- Next add in the Old Bay seasoning, horseradish, lemon juice, lime juice, salt and pepper. Whisk together until combined.
- Refrigerate to chill and set for 30 minutes.
Fresh Bloody Marys with Old Bay + Spicy Pickles
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- 5 ounces Fresh Bloody Mary Mix {see above}
- accouterments to garnish {see notes}
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice, pour in the vodka, and top with Fresh Bloody Mary Mix.
- Garnish it with your favorite accoutrements, and enjoy responsibly.
betty says
Sherrie this is so lovely! Thank you so much for organizing this boozy summer bash. It was a fun project and prompted me to post my first cocktail post! Gorgeous photos – I’m going to have to make this.
Lily | Kale & Caramel says
Guess what?! We’re almost birthday twinges — I turn 32 next Tuesday! I’m so, so glad you got to spend yours luxuriating in home, in nature, in your family, in that freaking amazing cake your grandma made.
Sophie | The Green Life says
Happy belated birthday! Funny I turned 32 last week too. I love this #drinkthesummer initiative! I’ve looked at a few of them so far and they all look amazing. You guys are giving me so many gorgeous summer drink ideas.
Brooke @ Chocolate + Marrow says
Hell yeah, I’m so excited about this! We’ve got like a million heirlooms that just ripened and I feel like this is a great way of enjoying them fresh. Because, obviously, cocktails are the best way to to consume your veggies.
Cady | Wild Heart of Life says
Old Bay and pickles in a Bloody Mary is pure genius!
lynsey | lynseylovesfood says
I have been lost in all these drink recipes all morning! What a great party! xo
kristan@the-broken-bread. says
Happy belated birthday! Your grandmas sounds like the loveliest! I am so happy you and Renee put this on, and that you invited me into the mix. Three cheers for summery cocktails, especially this one which I kinda want to make for lunch.
Michelle @ Hummingbird High says
Happy belated birthday! It sounds like you had a great time, especially if these Bloody Marys were involved somehow. Thanks for organizing such a fun event!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak says
Thank you so much for organizing this! It’s been soooo much fun. And these might be the prettiest bloody Marys I’ve ever seen.
Bianca says
Bloody Marys are my very favorite thing! I must try this! Love fresh heirloom tomatoes.
Jessie Snyder | Faring Well says
I love how we both wrote about our grandmas today! So cute. Love this drink (gorgeous) and thank you for helping put together this super fun online drink mixer, Sherrie! So much goodness – xo
aida mollenkamp says
So glad you got some quality time in New York. Safe travels home and thanks for including me in this delightful party!
Sonja says
Oh my goodness I’m loving the Old Bay in this! Growing up in the DC area I’ve had Old Bay on practically everything and now I’m going to add it to my Bloody Marys. Thank you for hosting this lovely party with Renee. I love discovering new blogs and finding new ways to use up my late summer produce!
Alanna says
Yum! I always love the idea of a Bloody Mary but that canned tomato juice never does it for me. I can’t wait to try this version! Your photos are so stunning, Sherrie. I’ll have all the pickles, please.
Em says
So clearly you and Renee had your thinking caps on for this one, because I can’t decide which of these mock/cocktails (I almost wrote those two out in the reverse and then thought better of it…) I want to make and drink first. Although I am a sucker for a good Bloody Mary, and this looks to be pretty primo! Thanks for hosting such a fun collaboration, sweet friend. Cheers to you!
Shelly @ Vegetarian 'Ventures says
This was so much fun – thanks again for hosting! Also, these Bloody Marys look out of this world!
Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist says
This is my first time on your blog and what a great day to have arrived! I found you through the #drinkthesummer event that you hosted. What a great idea. Everyone’s creations are so wonderful.
Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek says
I love Bloody Marys, so I can’t wait to try these babies out! Thank you for organizing this amazing collaboration. I had so much fun being a part of it.
Sabrina + Rachel @ Vigor + Sage says
Love your photos. Makes a Bloody Mary look comforting and refreshing. We had a fun time joining in the bash today! Thanks xx
Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation says
Thirty-eight bloggers sharing awesome recipes?! Well done for putting this all together and what a great idea.
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
That’s a great list of summer drink recipes! I am discovering new blogs and liking a lot of them. Thanks for the links.
Sarah | Well and Full says
Old Bay + Bloody Mary = Genius.
Lindsey says
Welcome to the thirty deuce club! Aka happy birthday! My birthday is next month and oooof, I’ll be hitting the double 3s. You and Renee put together such a stellar party, love it all! xo
Cindy says
These look amazing and wonderful and so refreshing. Thanks for hosting this awesome party! I had so much fun clicking through all the contributions.
cynthia says
You guys. This is like the highlight of my summer. So, so many dreamy, amazing, refreshing, summer-in-a-glass drinks! I’m never going to want for a delicious drink recipe ever again.
Genevieve @ gratitude & greens says
So much yes for using heirloom tomatoes in Bloody Marys! I would have never thought to add spicy pickles but these sound incredible. I wish this was a real life party I could go to because all the drink recipes just sound and look so amazing! What a perfect way to celebrate summer.
Aysegul says
What a great collaboration. Every single drink looks and sounds so good. Well done, ladies. Happy belated birthday!
Nina says
This is possible the most delicious looking drink I’ve seen this summer!
Eden Passante says
Adding spicy pickles is such a great touch to this recipe! I love it!