Hot Bloody Mary Soup

Description
This is a great soup to serve if you're entertaining guests for dinner.



Ingredients

 * 1 kg ripe tomatoes, halved
 * 2 red chili, halved and seeded
 * 2 teaspoon caster sugar
 * 2 tablespoons olive oil
 * 750 ml vegetable stock
 * 1 tablespoon tomato puree
 * 2 teaspoons horseradish sauce
 * 2 tablespoons dry sherry
 * 4 tablespoons vodka
 * 4 small celery stalks with leaves
 * celery, salt, pepper
 * 4 thin lemon slices

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large roasting pan, arrange tomatoes and chili cut side up. Sprinkle sugar and some salt and pepper. Drizzle oil on top. Roast for 30 minutes or until brown on top. Transfer roasted tomatoes in a blender. Add a little stock. Puree until smooth. Put puree back in the pan. Add remaining stock and tomato puree. Stir over medium low heat, taking care not to let the mixture boil. Add horseradish, sherry and vodka. Add more seasoning if desired. To serve, place a celery stalk in a bowl and ladle over soup. Sprinkle some ground black pepper. Finish with a slice of lemon on top. Serves 4.