Hello, foodies…
Are you still screaming for ice cream? GOOD! We’re only halfway through our In the Kitchen with David National Ice Cream month celebration and we’ve got some terrific frozen treats headed your way.
I’m so glad you all enjoyed Wednesday’s sugar- and dairy-free sorbet. I know you’ve heard me say this before, but we really do listen to your comments and feedback and try to incorporate all of your wishes into our recipes. So along the lines of gluten-, dairy-, and sugar-free requests, I know lots of you have put a vote in for some healthy recipes, which brings me to Sunday’s treat: Summer Melon Granita with Fresh Mint!
Summer Melon Granita with Fresh Mint
This recipe is prepared with Vitamix Creations Elite 48-oz 12-in-1 Variable Speed Blender (K37187).
Go to David's Recipe Item Page for the full list of items that David has used in his recipes.
Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 24 mint leaves
• 8 oz honeydew, chopped
• 8 oz cantaloupe, chopped
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/8 tsp salt
• Mint sprigs for garnish
Directions:
1. Combine the sugar, water, and mint leaves into a medium pot. Boil the mixture for 4 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool. Remove the mint leaves and discard them.
2. Using a large blender, combine the honeydew, cantaloupe, lemon juice, salt, and cooled sugar-water mixture; blend until completely smooth. Pour the mixture into an airtight container and chill for 3 hours.
3. After the 3 hours have passed, stir the honeydew mixture well and pour it into a 9" x 13" baking pan. Freeze the mixture for 5–6 hours. Use a fork to scrap through the mixture every 30 minutes for the first 3 hours (to separate the crystals.) Serve in a chilled glass and decorate with mint sprigs.
How’s that for healthy…and delicious! Think of all the vitamin C and potassium you’re getting from the melons. And did you know mint leaves contain fiber, carotenes, and vitamin C? You can always use honey or another sweetener for the sugar, but be aware your freezing times may change, depending on what you use. If you prefer to omit the sugar entirely, feel free. If you pick melons that are fragrant and give just a bit when squeezed, you probably got the sweetest in the bunch and you won’t miss any added sweetener.
Ready for today’s blog question? Let’s do a poll today, foodies, and let’s see how many responses we can get to this question: What’s your favorite summer melon: cantaloupe, honeydew, or watermelon. I think watermelon might be my personal favorite…but cantaloupe reminds me so much of my grandmother. She used to put salt on her melon to bring out the flavor! Don’t miss the show this Sunday at Noon ET…we’re announcing the winner of our Foodie Road Trip!
Keep it flavorful!
—David
P.S. It’s Customer Favorites Weekend on QVC! And speaking of favorites, so many of you own and love--or are thinking of buying--a Masterbuilt Smoker. In fact, every time we have it on air, it dominates our chat! And, questions about how to clean the smoker always seem to come up. Well Jacki our Studio Coordinator (who also helps out with the chat) compiled your questions and sent them to John McLemore for his advice. Here’s what he said:
Foodie Chatter Gloria M.: What is the best way to clean your smoker?
JM: After each use, we recommend wiping down the inner walls with a damp, soft sponge (not soaking wet). Remove any large food particles from the bottom of the smoker. The racks and pans are dishwasher safe. Don't use chemical cleaners in your smoker. A good natural cleaner is a 50/50 mixture of hot water and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle.
Foodie Chatter Anita H.: I watch the presentation, think I’d like a smoker, but I wonder how difficult it is to clean. Can anyone tell me?
JM: If you wrap the water bowl and drip pan in heavy-duty aluminum foil before each use, cleanup can be fast and easy. If your model has a drip pan, make sure you poke a hole through the foil in the area of the drain hole.
Additional thoughts from John: Always remember, your smoker is an electric appliance, so it should not be left out in the elements. Protect it with a cover and store under a covered area. To prolong the life of your smoker, clean it after every use
Thanks, Jacki, and thank you, John!