Cantaloupe Or Italian Ice Food

CANTALOUPE GELATO

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan heat sugar and water, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cool syrup. Cut rind from melon and discard seeds. Cut melon into chunks and in a food processor purée enough to measure 2 cups. Transfer purée to a bowl and stir in syrup and lemon juice. Chill melon mixture until cold and up to 1 day.
• Stir in egg white and freeze in an ice-cream maker. Serve gelato immediately or transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden no more than 3 hours.

GIULIANO HAZAN'S CANTALOUPE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Cut the melon into chunks about one inch thick.
• Put the melon chunks, the sugar and the water into a blender and puree until liquified. If using a food processor, put the melon and sugar in first and add the water after the melon is pureed completely.
• Whip the cream until it is about the density of sour cream. Add the cream to the pureed melon and stir well. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for about an hour.
• When it is quite cold, pour the melon mixture into an ice-cream maker and proceed according to the manufacturer's instructions. When done, the ice cream will be rather soft but ready to eat just the same. If you like it firmer, put it in a container with a tight-sealing lid and leave it in the freezer for three or four hours. If preparing it much longer in advance, let it soften in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before serving.

CANTALOUPE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, blend cantaloupe until smooth, Set aside.
• In a saucepan, dissolve gelatin in hot water ans stir until smooth, Let stand to cool.
• Beat egg yolks until smooth.
• Add cream or milk, 3/4 of the sugar, mango juice, and vanilla.
• Add to cantaloupe mixture along with the dissolved gelatin and blend for 1 minute.
• Beat egg whites until stiff and fluffy, Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and beat for 30 seconds.
• Add blender mixture and fold in egg whites.
• Put into plastic container, cover and freeze until firm.
• Banana, mango, coconut or other tropical fruits can be substituted for the cantaloupe.

CANTALOUPE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and water over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the mint. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
• Puree the fruit in a food processor until liquefied. Pour the fruit into a medium bowl and add the salt. Remove the mint leaves from the syrup. Add the syrup to the pureed fruit and mix well.
• Pour the cantaloupe mixture into a pre-chilled 7 by 12-inch glass baking dish. Place it uncovered into the freezer. Stir with a fork every 1/2 hour until almost completely frozen but still grainy, about 3 to 4 hours.
• Cooking Notes: This works best in 2 glass loaf pans or one 7 by 12-inch glass baking dish. The only critical point here is NOT to stir it past the almost frozen state or the ice crystals will become too fine and hard to scrape.
• Entertaining Notes: To serve, find a really interesting glass or bowl and dip it in cold water. Put the bowl into the freezer for 15 minutes; repeat. The result will be a frosted glass that looks great and sets the right backdrop for the granita.

CANTALOUPE ITALIAN ICE

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar and water in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.
• Peel and seed the cantaloupes. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Puree in a food processor. Strain through a medium sieve. Mix strained cantaloupe juice, sugar syrup, and lemon juice with a wire whisk.
• Pour into an ice cream machine. Add some cantaloupe pulp, if desired. Freeze to a smooth consistency, according to manufacturer's directions.
• You may wish to place in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator for a few hours to harden. Serve in a dessert glass topped with whipped cream or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

CANTALOUPE ITALIAN ICE

Steps:

• Place a 7x12-inch glass dish in the freezer to chill.
• Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat. Cook until sugar has completely dissolved. Add mint, remove from heat, and set aside to cool.
• Place melon in a food processor and process until pureed; pour into a bowl. Strain mint leaves from cooled syrup and add syrup to the melon. Stir until well combined.
• Pour cantaloupe mixture into the chilled dish and freeze uncovered for 3 to 4 hours, stirring with a fork every 30 minutes. Continue until mixture is almost frozen and a bit grainy; don't let it freeze completely, otherwise you won't be able to serve it.
• Place in a decorative bowl and garnish with mint leaves.

ITALIAN ICE

Steps:

• Combine the syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest, and mint in a small pitcher. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
• Shave the ice by placing 2 to 3 cups crushed ice at a time in a food processor and running the machine until the ice is finely shaved. Store shaved ice in a large re-sealable plastic bag in the freezer for up to 1 day.
• Place 1 1/2 cups of crushed ice in a serving dish. Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of the syrup mixture over the ice. Serve immediately.