The weather was beautiful last weekend wasn't it? Aside from a few afternoon showers the clouds made way for gorgeous sunshine. But when we were all praying for the sun and wishing the rainstorms away I think we momentarily forgot about one thing...the heat! Saturday afternoon was a scorcher, but thankfully Festival Punch was not in short supply. But now that Festival International is just something we're counting down to (and recovering from) how will we ever keep cool?!
I had the idea a few weekends ago. My mom always has ice cream in the fridge for family gatherings - and we wonder why my kids love going to Granny's house - but this time she also had Italian Ice. The lemony goodness was just what the adults needed to beat the heat without the heaviness of the ice cream that kids screamed for. Italian Ice is made from a process that's a lot like making ice cream. Stirring the mixture while the ingredients freeze makes for a smooth, creamy texture. But the same cooling effect and deliciousness can be easily achieved in a slightly easier way by getting to know Italian ice's close relative, granita. In Italy, granita varieties are typically made with citrus fruits or berries, and sometimes even chocolate (I have to try this), but at home, I use whatever fruit juice I have on hand.
The great thing about Spring and Summer is the abundance of delicious fruit, but it's so plentiful that we often end up wasting. If you're anything like, me towards the end of the week, you're left with really ripe fruit that you can't possibly finish before it goes bad. This simple recipe will not only prevent you from ditching those strawberries and watermelon slices, but it will also cool you down without weighing you down. The kids love it because it tastes like a popcicle, you'll love it because it's easier on your pocketbook & waistline than other desserts. Which version will you freeze up?!
Fruit juice granita
Directions
- Make a simple syrup (1 part sugar dissolved in 1 part water on medium heat)
- Once cooled add to fruit juice - try a blend like different melons or berries (you can use honey to sweeten the juice to your liking also)
- Place in a shallow freezer-safe pan and cover with plastic wrap
- After about an hour you should be able to use the tines of a fork to scrape the juice into small crystals
- Get creative & add toppings or try different bases like coffee or coconut milk (yum!)