Spicy Tomato Cucumber Smoothie

Last week I held a Super Foods Smoothie program at the local library.  24 people registered.   Since in the past as many as 10 don't bother showing up, I felt quite confident to pick or purchase enough ingredients to serve the 24.

Then 27 showed up.  
 Did I panic?

 Of course.

Then I remembered ... oh, yeah ... cups don't have to be filled to the brim.  So everyone was shorted slightly, with a little left in the pitchers for scant second servings.  Which then left juuust enough to save for library staff afterwards.  Yay!

Over the next week or so I will share, virtually speaking, those smoothies.   Today's recipe is really Healthy Smoothie Day, Dear Reader!  This particular veggie-based smoothie is more savory than sweet.  Similar to V8, but with a few less veggies, a slight bit of a kick, and a ton less salt.  Kinda-sorta gazpacho, but without those pesky veggie lumps.

So what makes this smoothie a Super Food?   And, while we are at it, what the heck is a super food anyway?

A super food is, without all the hype, any simple healthy food item.   A tomato, fully ripened on the vine -- as opposed to being picked green and hit with Ethylene gas to ripen as it is trucked from who knows where all the way to your local supermarket -- can be classified as a super food.  The tomatoes I used for last week's program were picked at their moment of ripeness by moi from the library's small veggie/herb garden.  No pesticides or unnatural fertilizer ever touched these babies. 

See that dark red color?  Thank the lycopene.

Anyway, if you are still reading this, you are about to learn something: a lovely ripe tomato contains lutein (good for the eyes), and vitamins A, B, C and E.  It is also packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that helps prevent cancer.

All very super food-y.

This healthy smoothie would be a good start your day.  Unless you replace the ice with vodka.  Then it will be a great start to your day.

Spicy Tomato Cucumber Smoothie
Adapted from: www.recipe4living.com
Yield: 2 large servings
 
Note: Can be made ahead! Chill, covered, for up to a day. Whisk before serving.

1 medium firm, ripe tomato, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups tomato juice, well chilled
1 medium cucumber, peeled and cut into chunks
1 small clove garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. table salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. red (cayenne) pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 cup ice (optional)

Garnish suggestions:
lime wedges
cherry tomatoes
cucumber spears
celery stalks

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth, 30-60 seconds.

Divide mixture between 2 on-the-rocks glasses. Top off with any of the garnish ingredients, if desired, just before serving.