Red, White and ...

With the Fourth of July weekend rapidly approaching, I wanted to give you a juice recipe that you could serve at a party or barbecue which would be both festive and healthful.

In almost every magazine issue in June/July there will be a recipe for a red, white and blue smoothie which involves, blueberries, strawberries and a creamy vanilla something or other.  I love these smoothies too, and they make very colorful additions to any table.  However, I thought something a little different might be in order.

Coupled with the fact that the farmers markets are just bursting with fresh local produce right now, this is a great excuse to get down to your local market and pick up the main ingredient for this juice - tomatoes!

It's a classic, spicy tomato juice, but believe me, when you've tasted it made with fresh tomatoes, the stuff you get in the can just won't cut it anymore! 

What you should know is that the tomato is the fantastic source of lycopene which is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids. Lycopene has been shown to be incredibly useful in disease prevention and in the fight against cancer.

There's only one problem with this recipe, and that's the blue.  The red comes from the tomato obviously, the white comes from the ice, so I suggest that the blue can come from the colour of the cocktail napkin that you serve it on!!

Spicy Tomato Juice
3 big ripe tomatoes
2 stalks celery
1/4 lemon (rind on)
Fennel slice
1/4 cucumber

So, put everything through the juicer and pour over ice.  I add some Worcestershire Sauce and Tabasco, and of course to really spice up your party, you could add a shot of vodka - who says juicing can't be fun!!