Would You Like a Cup of Coffee…Granita?

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

These hot summer days call for rather unusual measures.

The heat is so high that recently I’ve been finding myself freezing various things just to stay cool and within my senses – there’ve been popsicles (strawberry or yogurt), there’ve been tea and coffee flavored ice cubes, there’s been delicious orange granita…and now, coffee granita.

Though I feel a little cooler now there’s one thing that makes me feel a little uneasy.

In fact, my urge to freeze things has developed into such a state that I am becoming a little afraid…of myself (so, just for the sake of your own safety, if you don’t feel like ending up in a freezer, please, don’t come too close to me these days).

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

There’s nothing easier than making your own homemade coffee granita.

1. Just prepare two cups of your favorite coffee – espresso or instant, both are yummy.

2. Add 10 teaspoons of sugar…and pssst, just for kicks, pour in some flavored liqueur (coffee, vanilla, cream…anything that makes your soul happy).

3. Allow to cool.

4. Pour this coffee mixture into a larger, shallow container and use plastic wrap to cover the top.

5. Place the container into the freezer for about 1 hour.
coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

6. After one hour, remove the mixture from the freezer and, using a fork, break up the ice crystals that have formed.

Hm, now I see what making granita is all about…it’s about a vigorous and aggressive fight against the crystal structure of ice.

7. Cover and return the container back to the freezer.

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

8. Repeat this procedure four more times – every hour, until the mixture is thoroughly frozen. Be sure to break any big chunks and keep your granita fluffy.

9. Keep frozen until ready to serve.

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

Yummilicious!

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

I am sure you or your guests will highly appreciate this interesting twist on coffee or dessert.

Enjoy, dear friends.

See you soon.

With love,

Petra

Lemon Tart

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

Well, this might be the most interesting thing I’ve ever baked.

I’d describe it as decadent, fascinating and delicious.

The combination of a mildly sweet pie crust and a rather strong lemony filling will not allow you to stay indifferent to this tart.

You’ll either love it or…you’ll love it even more.

The taste is definitely intense, but very impressive, delicious and refreshing – especially to all the lemon lovers out there.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

This is what you need to prepare this yummy treat.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

1. First, we are going to use the flour, butter, egg yolk and the sugar (2 tablespoons).

Place all these ingredients in a medium bowl and with your hand, first combine them and then knead until you have a nice dough ball.

But don’t you work too much at this point, dear friends – I mean, don’t overwork the dough since pie crusts don’t like it, they want to remain flaky after baking.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images
2. Now, place the dough ball between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll it out into an 11 – 12 inch (28 – 30 cm) circle.

Wow, this rolling between two papers, that’s something. I definitely recommend it if you want to make you life easier.
So much easier. It’s a pleasure to work this way. No sticking to the working surface whatsoever – you can forever forget that.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

3. Have ready an 8 – 9 inch (20 – 23 cm) tart pan (with removable bottom, preferably, though I didn’t use that).

Spray the pan with a little oil.

Remove the top paper from the rolled out dough and invert the dough into the pan (along with the remaining paper that will end up being on top now).

Lightly press the pastry into the bottom and up the sides of the tart pan.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

4. Remove the paper…

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

…only to crumple it and lay it out over the pastry again. Fill the paper with pie weights or just dried beans or peas.

Pop into the oven and bake at 375 F (190 C) for about 9 minutes, then remove the paper along with the weights and bake for another 5 minutes.

Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to only 300 F (150 C).

Yeah, we are blind-baking (or pre-baking) here. This process keeps the unfilled pie crust from puffing up in the oven or becoming too soggy when the tart gets filled and baked.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

5. Meanwhile we can prepare the filling for our tart.

Squeeze the juice out of four small lemons.

Make sure the juice contains no seeds – we don’t want this kind of surprise in the tart. Unless we wanted that, for some reason…

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

6. In the bowl of you electric mixer mix the eggs with the sugar (1/2 cup – 100 grams) for about 5 minutes or until smooth, fluffy and almost white in color.

Then add the cream and the lemon juice and mix again shortly.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

7. Fill the crust with the filling and bake at 300 F (150 C) for about 40 minutes or until the filling doesn’t wobble.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

8. Remove from the oven and let cool on the wire rack.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

9. We are going to cover the whole tart with a nice lemony and syrupy glaze.

To prepare the syrup, pour the water and sugar (1/3 cup – 70 grams) into a saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and heat the mixture up.

Peel the remaining lemon and slice it into thin rounds. Add the lemon rounds into the saucepan and let the mixture cook for about 15 minutes, stirring every now and then.

Then pour the mixture over the tart and spread it evenly.

And that’s it.

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

Mmmmmm…

lemon tart recipe with step-by-step images

Yummy!

I recommend chilling the tart before serving.

Also, store it in the refrigerator.

Enjoy, dear friends.

Send this to a friend