This unusual recipe for a Bloody Mary is inspired by Ukrainian Chef Klopotenko, is the quintessential beverage for Sunday Brunch. The non-alcoholic recipe includes frozen strawberries, cucumbers, and chili peppers. To elevate the nutritional content even more, we subbed Vodka for celery juice! I like it spicy, so I use hot smoked paprika, as opposed to the sweet paprika.

While drinking this Bloody Mary,  let’s remember send our love out to the Ukrainians, do what we can to aid their country and people during this time, and continue to keep their traditions alive.

• 14 oz. tomato juice
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and grated (about 1 cup)
• ½ spicy chili pepper, such as serrano, or fresno, seeded and finely minced
•  ½ tsp. Hot smoked paprika, (or sweet paprika if you don’t like too much spice)
• 6 frozen strawberries
• 6 oz. Celery Juice, or more to taste
• Tabasco or other hot sauce, optional
• Lime juice, optional

1. Pour the tomato juice, cucumber, chili pepper and smoked paprika into a high speed blender, and blend until smooth.
2. Add in frozen strawberries, and blend until smooth.
3. Divide the mixture equally into 2 highball glasses,  
4. Pour ½ (3 oz.) of celery juice into each glass.  Give it a taste, adding more celery juice, lime juice and hot sauce as needed.