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!

Popsicles That Pop

This is definitely the season for a nice icy treat and what better than a homemade Popsicle. This is one of summer's best foods. It's even better when you make your won. Like homemade ice cream you can vary the flavors and have fun with them.

What's a good Popsicle flavor. You can start with just everyday juices like grape and cranberry. These are always the best tastes and kids love them. For a more refreshing and tart flavor try Newman's Own lemonade or limeade for more of a tropical treat. You can also make your own if you want and regulate the sweetness or tartness to your liking. One of the more popular flavors now is watermelon. You just have to puree watermelon chunks and blend with a simple sugar syrup (basically white sugar boiled with water) and then pour into molds. You can also do the same with fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. The flavor will be more intense though and with the strawberries and raspberries, you will have seeds.

There's a trend for more unusual Popsicles. You can try guava and papaya but remember to mix these with water or coconut milk. They may be too thick and will create a "sludgy" ice pop and that calls for experiments with thicknesses. Some foodies are adding fresh ginger and basil to their pops for a different , more intense spin. This again requires some experimenting and regulating. You don't want to have frozen pesto on a stick, after all.

Popsicles are a wonderful and fun treat to make. Experiment with different tastes and ingredients to create one to your liking. Then sit under the shadiest tree and enjoy!