Recipe: Strawberry Melon Granita (blender)

STRAWBERRY MELON GRANITA

1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
3 cups seeded watermelon chunks
2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger root
1/2 cup pineapple juice

Combine sugar and 1/3 cup water in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Cool syrup.

Puree watermelon in blender. Add strawberries and ginger root. Blend until mixture is fairly smooth.

Add fruit puree and pineapple juice to sugar syrup. Pour into a (13x9-inch) pan. Freeze 3 to 5 hours or until firm, stirring and breaking up large ice crystals with a fork three or four times.

Just before serving, scrape fork through mixture to flake ice into crystals. Spoon into chilled dessert bowls. Garnish with whole strawberries, if desired.

Makes 8 servings (1 cup each)
Source: Linda Giuca to The Hartford Courant, September 5, 2002