The summer heat makes it nearly impossible to be near an oven, so what’s a dessert lover to do to keep cool as the temperature creeps up? Frozen dessert, duh! I love ice cream and Haagen Dazs really does know their stuff. But, where’s the fun in serving someone else’s hard work? I felt like all the stars aligned when I came across this recipe in Bon Appétit, “Freeze Right Where You Are.” This article is all about making frozen dessert without an ice cream machine, and since I don’t have an ice cream machine YET, this article spoke to me.
So, what did this Bite-Sized Blonde make? A watermelon granita, that’s what. A granita is similar to a shaved ice, like Ralph’s for all you New Yorkers. It’s cold and refreshing and oh so yummy. It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare; the freezer does all the hard work here! Plus, it’s low in calories. Jackpot! My guests were impressed and I know yours will be too.
Watermelon Granita
Ingredients
4 cups cubed seedless watermelon
½ cup sugar substitute
1 tbsp. Fresh lime juice
Directions
Puree all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into a baking dish and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the freezer for 1 hour. Set a timer otherwise you will definitely forget. * After an hour, remove the granita from the freezer. Stir the mixture, and smash any frozen parts with the back of a fork. Cover the mixture and place back in the freezer for about 2 hours, or until you are ready to serve it. To serve, scrape the granita vigorously with a fork to form ice flakes. Scoop into a cup and serve!
*Don’t worry if you forget. Let the granita sit on the counter for about 10 minutes. You should be able to remove it in pieces. Place the pieces of the frozen mixture back in the blender for a couple minutes and then refreeze until you are ready to serve!
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/06/watermelon-granita
Bite Sized Banter 