Cucumber Meyer Lemon And Lavender Granita Food

AUTHENTIC SICILIAN GRANITA AL LIMONE

Steps:

• Pour water and sugar into a saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar melts; do not bring to a boil. Remove from heat when the sugar has completely dissolved and the water is no longer cloudy. Add lemon juice and stir until combined. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Pour into a freezer-safe dish that has a tight lid. Cover and put into the freezer until it begins to freeze around the edges, but is still slushy in the center, about 45 minutes.
• Lightly stir the crystals from the edge of the granita mixture into the center using a fork and mix thoroughly. Replace the lid. Close the freezer and chill until granita is nearly frozen, 30 to 40 more minutes.
• Mix lightly with a fork as before, scraping the crystals loose. Repeat freezing and stirring with the fork 3 to 4 times until crystals are separate and the granita is light, dry, and fluffy.
• Serve each portion with 1/2 of a lemon wheel and fresh lemon zest on top.

LAVENDER LEMONADE WITH CAVA

Steps:

• Put the sugar and 1 cup of water in a small pot and bring just to a simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat, stir in the dried lavender, cover and let steep for at least 20 minutes.
• Pour the lavender syrup through a fine-mesh strainer. The syrup can be made up to 3 days in advance and kept cold in the refrigerator.
• In a large pitcher, add the lemon juice, lavender syrup, 2 cups of water and ice and stir to combine. Taste, adding more water to reach the desired sweetness.
• Pour the lavender lemonade into individual glasses with ice, top with chilled cava and garnish with lemon slices. Enjoy!

LEMON GRANITA

Steps:

• Clean and wash the lemons. Cut off the top 1/4 of the lemons and shave a small slice off the bottom so it stands easily.
• Using a grapefruit knife, cut out the flesh of the lemon and place in a strainer set over a bowl. Be careful not to cut through the bottom. Stand the lemons on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer and freeze until solid.
• Press the flesh of the lemons through the strainer to extract all of the juice. You should end up with about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice. Add the water to the lemon juice. Stir in sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is of desired sweetness. Add the thyme and limoncello and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Strain the mixture into a roasting pan or baking dish. The dish should be large enough so the liquid is not more than 1-inch deep. Freeze the mixture for 1 hour. Remove from the freezer and scrape with 2 forks to break up ice. Return to the freezer and freeze until solid, about 2 to 3 hours, scraping with forks every hour or so.
• When the granite is frozen, scoop it into the frozen lemon shells and serve immediately.

CUCUMBER-LEMON MARTINI

Steps:

• Shake the gin, pureed cucumber, dry vermouth and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon peel and cucumber slice.

PICKLED CUCUMBER SALAD WITH RED ONIONS AND FETA

Steps:

• Place the cucumbers and onions in a large serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper. In a small glass measuring cup, whisk together the rice vinegar and sugar. Pour over the cucumbers and onions and toss to combine. Cover tightly and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to develop.
• Top with the feta cheese and fresh dill just before serving.

LEMON-CUCUMBER COCKTAIL

Steps:

• In a large pitcher, combine club soda, gin and lemon juice.
• Place a lemon slice and cucumber slice into each glass. Top with 1 cup crushed ice. Pour gin mixture into glasses. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired.

MEYER LEMON GRANITA

Steps:

• Place the zest, water, mint springs, and agave or sugar in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir for about one minute.
• Remove from the heat, and allow the syrup to cool slightly in the refrigerator.
• When chilled, strain out the lemon zest and the mint sprigs.
• Stir the lemon juice into the chilled syrup. Taste to make sure the mixture is not too tart; if it is, add a little more sugar.
• Pour the mixture into a 9x13-inch shallow baking dish (metal, ceramic, or glass), so the mixture is about an inch deep.
• Place in the freezer.
• Every 30 minutes stir with a fork, scraping the crystals down from the side of the dish.
• When the granita is slightly slushy, but definitely frozen hard, with small firm granules of ice, it's done. It will take 2-3 hours to get to this stage.
• The granita may be transferred to an airtight container and stored for a couple hours before serving.
• Remove the granita from the freezer about 10 minutes before serving, so it softens slightly.
• Serve in dessert bowls or glasses.

LEMONY CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the cucumbers, vinegar, sugar, celery seed, pepper, salt, chopped onion and lemon juice. Toss, cover and chill for 4 hours.

CUCUMBER, MEYER LEMON AND LAVENDER GRANITA

Steps:

• In a blender, blend the Meyer lemon juice and cucumber together, creating cucumber water. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds.
• Place 1/2 cup water into a saucepan and add the sugar and lavender. Bring the mixture to a simmer to dissolve the sugar and infuse the simple syrup with the lavender flavor. Then set aside to cool.
• Once the syrup is cool, remove the lavender sprigs and mix the syrup into the cucumber water. Add in the Meyer lemon zest and then pour the mixture into a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Place the dish into the freezer to chill. Every 30 minutes, scrape the mixture with a fork to break up the ice crystals and to keep it light and fluffy. Continue scraping every 30 minutes for at least 2 hours.
• Scrape the granita into elegant glasses and sprinkle with fleur de sel.