Miya's Kitchen: Lemon Granita Notes

As a child, when given a choice between desserts, I always wanted the snow cones, dippin’ dots, colored popsicles or vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. I can only imagine I was drawn to the color – there is something so fun about indulging in what I call fairy foods. It must have carried over with my generation because the recent obsession with rainbow bagels and unicorn toast doesn’t seem too far from the dippin’ dots and purple ketchup craze of my youth.

I’m not completely on board with the rainbow foods, because while they are dazzling and photogenic, the taste leaves something to be desired. It got me thinking though; what summer treat could be adapted into something more mature but still evoke that sense of whimsy when you eat it? Enter granita.

I have tried a couple of different versions of this semi-frozen treat – watermelon, strawberry and cantaloupe – but the lemon was by far my favorite. It tastes like frozen lemonade but the texture is similar to those wonderful snow cones made with the special ice and fancy machine. Granita is easy to make and is perfect to enjoy out by the pool or at the beach.