Yum! [burp] ‘scuse, pleez.
I also make my bloodies from scratch. Use the V-8 like you do, but also add the “secret ingredient”: a shot of beer. The only really important veggie I see missing is the dilly beans. (My wife cans them every year. Perfect for bloodies.) Cheers!
Dilly Beans Rock! Ask her to make pickled asparagus spears for you this spring...they also rock. :)
I have one more season and we’ll be up to our eyeballs in fresh asparagus; we planted a 50’ row of it spring before last.