Granita An Easy Summer Treat

What to serve after an elegant dinner or a rowdy barbecue? Granita - that cool Italian iced treat that's easy to make and fun to eat. The best part about it is it's a snap to make. You don't need an ice cream or slushie maker. All it takes is an ice cube tray and some creativity. That's it for a great after dinner or any time treat.

Basically granita is nothing more than ice that's been "shredded" with a fork. It takes it name from grainy because of its' coarse texture. A smoother ice would be called sorbet but this variation of Italian ice should have some kind of crunch thank to the frozen shreds or granules in it. Another plus is that it doesn't require any fancy equipment. You can use an old ice cube tray or pie pan to freeze the mixture. Then use a fork preferably to scrape the ice off the sides and bottom every half hour until serving.

Like ice cream or sorbet granita can be made with any flavor. The most popular is espresso however you can also use regular coffee or a mix of coffee and chocolate syrup. You can also use the fruit of the season too. Fresh picked strawberries are delicious as are blueberries and blackberries. You just have to cook a simple syrup with just water and granulated sugar.Puree the fruit and add to mix as it's cooking. If you want you can leave a few coarsely chopped fruit pieces too for added texture.Lemon or lime granita is a tangy twist on the treat. You can just freeze already made lemonade or limeade or add the unsweetened juices to a simple syrup.

Granita is the easiest summer treat to make. Take a simple mix of whatever you want and just throw it in to an ice cube tray or pie pan. Shred it occasionally and come out with an easy fun dessert , perfect for these hot days!