Recipe: Mint-Infused Citrus Ice

MINT-INFUSED CITRUS ICE

"This ice makes a refreshing dessert alone or paired with strawberries, melon or shortbread cookies."

Zest and juice from 1 lime
Zest and juice from 1 lemon
Zest and juice from 1 orange
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
3 or 4 sprigs fresh mint, leaves and sprigs torn into pieces and bruised slightly, plus additional for garnish
About 1 cup orange juice

In a medium saucepan, bring the zests, water, sugar and mint to a simmer, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, pour the lime, lemon and orange juices into a 2-cup measuring glass and add additional orange juice to measure 2 cups.

Strain the cooled mint syrup through a sieve into a metal bowl. Add the juices and transfer the bowl to the freezer. Chill until half-frozen, about 3 hours.

Whisk, breaking up the ice crystals, and return the bowl to the freezer; continue to chill, whisking occasionally, until the mixture is stiff, about 5 hours total.

Scoop into dessert dishes and garnish with tiny mint sprigs.

Makes 6 servings
Source: Gail Forman in The Washington Post, June 23, 1999