The Versatile Bloody Mary

I could wake up to a different kind of bloody mary every day. I've had bloody marys with pickled okra, ones made with beer or tequila instead of the standard vodka, and others with green tomatoes and herbs. Some, spiked with beef stock or studded with raw oysters, taste like a meal. And let's not forget the delicious classic version, made with lots of horseradish, fresh lemon juice, celery salt, Worcestershire, Tabasco, and just the right balance of vodka and tomato juice. Weekend mornings just wouldn't be the same without one. —John Francese, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania