Melting

You know what, I don't even have the energy to talk about the weather. Let's just say it's hot. It was 104 degrees F when I left work yesterday and it is allegedly better today, although I wouldn't know because I haven't left the relative coolness of my apartment. I don't feel like cooking, I definitely don't feel like baking, and I don't even really feel like eating!

Fortunately, making watermelon granita hardly counts when it comes to effort. Just blend up a chunk of watermelon (I added some lemon balm from an earlier CSA pick-up), pour into a shallow container, and put in the freezer. Stir with a fork periodically as it freezes to break up the ice crystals. It feels like a treat (and it is!) but it's a damned virtuous one.


Or you can go look for the nearest shaved ice man (mine's right across the street--I can hear him now).


Anyhow, here is the haul from week 6 of the CSA, not that I have done much with it. I've eaten the komatsuna, about half of the corn, carrots, and lettuce. I would love to make peach jam with my glut of peaches, but that's going to have to wait. Maybe I should just peel, slice, and freeze them...but then I won't have space to make granita. Decisions, decisions!

Well, I'll keep it short. Wherever you are, I hope you are staying cool (this heat wave seems to have covered most of the States). I would send you some watermelon granita if I could, but I'm contemplating filling my bathtub with it....

Watermelon Granita

A couple of weeks ago in the midst of the heat wave (oh it was so hot), I was holed up in my bedroom, sitting on top of the air conditioner, reading foodblogs for ideas for icy treats. And, like a bolt from the sky, I saw this post from Petra of Zoom Yummy. (Have you seen her blog? It keeps me giggling constantly. And hungry.) Granita! Brilliant idea! Cold, sweet, delicious, none of the guilt associated with ice cream--I was sold.

I also had no oranges. SOB.

But, according to an old work evaluation form that I found the other day, I am able to adapt in tricky situations. Surely you will agree with me that this was a tricky situation!

Oh have I mentioned the fact that I've had an unbroken supply of watermelon in the fridge? And that I was starting to get tired (blasphemy!) of watermelon juice? What better way to revive my love affair with watermelon than to turn it into a delicious, sparkly, icy, pink granita!

No need for a recipe. Blend yourself some watermelon chunks. Pour into a shallow container (watermelon juice is so sweet you won't need to add any sugar or syrup, but you may want to try a little lemon zest or juice for zing!). Stick in freezer. Stir every hour or two to break up the ice crystals. It'll start getting slushy, then more granular, and finally, you'll have a container of granita. Scoop or scrape into a bowl, and eat. Or directly into your mouth. Either way, mmmmm. Nothing better on a hot summer day.