Maple Orange Granita Food

ORANGE GRANITA

Steps:

• Squeeze 5 to 6 oranges to yield 3 cups of juice. In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup sugar. Boil over high heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a shallow 2-quart dish, and add remaining orange juice.
• Freeze, scraping around sides and breaking into crystals with a fork every 30 minutes, 2 to 2 1/2 hours total. Cover with plastic wrap; keep in freezer until ready to serve.

MAPLE-ORANGE GRANITA

Steps:

• Stir 2 tablespoons syrup and pinch of salt into juice. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart dish. Freeze 2 hours, scraping with a fork every 30 minutes (mixture should icy and fluffy).
• Stir together sour cream, remaining tablespoon syrup, pinch of salt, and cardamom if using. Divide among 4 bowls. Top with granita and orange segments.

ORANGE GRANITA

Steps:

• Clean and wash the oranges. Cut off the top 1/4 of the oranges and shave a small slice off the bottom so it stands easily.
• Using a grapefruit knife, cut out the flesh of the oranges and place in a strainer set over a bowl. Be careful not to cut through the bottom. Stand the oranges on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer and freeze until solid.
• Press the flesh of the oranges through the strainer to extract all of the juice. You should end up with about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups of orange juice. Add the extra 4 cups orange juice. Stir in sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is of desired sweetness. Add the basil and orange-flavored liqueur 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 orange shells and serve immediately.

MAPLE GRANITA

Steps:

• Whisk together water, maple syrup, ginger, lemon juice and sugar in a large saucepan.
• Place saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. REduce heat to medium and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and pour into a large 2 inch deep baking dish. Freeze for 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve scoop granita into chilled glasses and garnish with blueberries and fresh mint.