Pear Granita Recipes

Steps:

• Combine pears and honey in processor; puree until smooth. Pour reserved pear juices into 2-cup measuring cup. Add enough cranberry juice to pear juices to measure 2 cups. Add juice mixture to processor and process until well blended. Transfer to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Freeze until frozen, at least 5 hours or overnight. Using fork, scrape surface of granita to form crystals. Divide granita among 6 dessert glasses. Garnish with cranberries and mint sprigs, if desired.

Steps:

• Quarter the pears, peel them, and remove the cores. Dice the pears into 1-inch (3-cm) pieces. Put them in a medium-sized, nonreactive saucepan with the water and sugar and cook over medium heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until completely soft, about 8 minutes. A knife inserted into a pear chunk should meet no resistance.
• Cool to room temperature, then purée the pears and their liquid in a blender or food processor until smooth. Freeze according to the instructions for freezing granita on page 145.
• Serve Pear Granita with Chocolate Sorbet (page 120) or Chocolate Ice Cream, Philadelphia-Style (page 28).

Steps:

• Combine wine and fructose in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, and add the zests. Simmer for 2 minutes; strain, and transfer to a 9-inch Pyrex pie plate. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours.

Steps:

• Puree peaches, water, sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a blender; add more sugar to taste. Transfer to an 8-inch-square baking dish. Freeze for 2 1/2 hours, scraping with a fork every hour (mixture should be icy and fluffy). Stir in basil.