We just had a fantastic heat wave on the central coast. We could not ask for better weather this spring. One of my favorite things about spring is the start of berry season. Strawberries are the first to really get into swing followed by raspberries and our prized olallieberry. The self pick farms are just about to open up so you are sure to find beautifully ripe berries. Try this simple recipe for a granita. Think of it as a home made icee. Wonderful with a splash of sparkling wine in the bottom of the glass for a dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of orange juice
- 1 cup of simple syrup
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 pound of fresh strawberries cut into quarters
- 1 pound of raspberries
Method:
Start by making the simple syrup. Combine 6 ounces of water with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. Place on medium heat and whisk occasionally until the sugar is dissolved. Add the orange juice to the simple syrup to cool slightly. Place the berries in a blender and add half of the syrup orange juice mixture. Pulse a few times to slightly blend the berries. Add the rest of the syrup mixture and blend until smooth. Strain to remove any remaining seeds. Put mixture in a glass baking dish and place in the freezer. After a half hour remove the dish and scrape the mixture with a fork, creating a snow cone type texture. Repeat every half hour for about 4-5 hours. Once all of the mixture is shaved with a fork place plastic wrap or a lid over the granita and store for at least another 12 hours. Place in glasses and serve.
