Spicy Chilled Tomato and Vodka Soup

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs fresh Italian (Roma) tomatoes
• 3 green onions
• 3 celery stalks
• 1 Jalapeño pepper
• 2 ½ tsp lemon juice
• 1 ½ cups tomato juice
• 1 1/4 cups Vodka
• Salt and fresh pepper
• 1/4 cup finely chopped chives
• fresh parsley for garnish
• Tabasco Sauce (optional)

Method

1. Remove tomato skins ( submerse them into boiling water for one minute, let cool then peel skins off).
2. Remove insides of the tomatoes and discard.
3. Chop up tomato pulp.
4. Put tomato pieces, celery, jalapeño, chives and celery in blender and blend until smooth.
5. Add tomato juice and Vodka and blend a little more.
6. Season with salt and pepper and serve chilled with a parsley sprig as garnish.