Granitas.

[hippywife]

With the temps being in the triple digits here and such lovely fruit being so plentiful, I've been using my little ice cream maker to make granitas. So far, I've made strawberry, and tonight I made peach. I've made my favorite, the pink grapefruit, twice. So much more refreshing than ice cream when it's this hot.

I'm thinking of trying a cranberry/orange next or a mango. :9

[Stinky The Clown]

1. How are you making it?

Just frozen pureed fruit?

Sugar? Simple syrup?

Just chill it then freeze it?

[hippywife]

2. Different methods depending on the fruit.

The peach and strawberry have been pureed fruit mixed with 1 cup sugar, 2 T. lemon juice, and 1 cup water, then added to the ice cream machine. But most recipes call for just spreading it out in a jelly roll or 9x13 and sliding that into the freezer. Most of the recipes don't call for the water but I add it anyway to give it a chillier, icier consistency. It has made no difference to the taste. Still powerfully fruity.

Having the ice cream machine means we can eat it a little sooner. I still put it in the freezer for a little while before we do but it doesn't take hours.

The grapefruit is made with a simple syrup because it only uses the zest and the juice of the fruit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=61797

Regardless of how it's made, once it's been in the freezer for a long period of time, it has to slightly defrost before it's very easy to spoon out. Some recipes call for scraping it out with a fork.

There are tons of recipes out there if one googles granita preceeded by the name of the fruit of choice.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Okay .... those are the pretty much standard recipes

I'm gong to try this, but with Splenda instead of sugar.

[hippywife]

4. Now this sounds like a real winner!

Blackberry Granita

Ingredients:
2 pints fresh blackberries, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup red wine
1/2 cup sugar
cinnamon stick

For the simple syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar

Shallow baking pan 13-by-9 or 13-by-11
Fork for scraping

Method:

Combine the blackberries, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup red wine, 1/2 cup sugar, and cinnamon stick in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil using medium heat. Once the mixture begins to boil, remove from heat. Let mixture cool for 15 minutes.


Strain the mixture through a fine sieve, but do not press down or the mixture will become cloudy.

Make a simple syrup:
Combine the cup of sugar with the cup of water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, remove from heat and cool.

For the granita:

Add cooled simple syrup mixture to strained berry mixture to taste.


Put the mixture in a shallow baking pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight or at least eight hours.


When ready to serve, take a fork and scrap into fine crystals.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/25/earlyshow/saturday/chef/main676521.shtml

[hippywife]

5. Oh my!

Try this with a fresh pineapple! It's wonderful and needs very little sweetening. :9

[Callalily]

6. Pineapple? Now that

sounds simply delicious. I've never made granitas but always wanted to try. I think you have inspired me!

[hippywife]

7. It really couldn't be simpler.

My husband tends to like the pureed fruit ones but I think the ones made with the citrus fruit juices and simple syrups are icier and refreshing.

It's been fun experimenting and Heck! you can usually eat it no matter how it turns out since it's just fruit, water and sometimes a little sweetener. So there is no try...there is only do. :rofl:

:hi: