Granita De Limone (Sicilian Lemon Ice)

Growin' up in Chicago I remember as a kid runnin' the streets of the Italian neighborhood in summer and getting cooled off eatin' Italian Ice.

• Ready In: 6 hrs
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
• 1  cup cold water
• 4  lemons

Directions

1. Begin the preceding night by squeezing the lemons into a strainer formed by placing a coffee filter in a strainer. Strain the lemon juice into a small bowl containing the cold water - this is a very slow drop-by-drop process.
2. Add the sugar the next morning.
3. Mix very well with a wooden spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved.
4. Pour into a tin or aluminum pan.
5. Place the pan in the freezer.
6. Let rest for about 5 hours, breaking up the solid layer of ice which forms at least once every hour.
7. Remove the pan from the freezer.
8. Cut the ice into pieces with a knife.
9. Place the ice pieces in an ice crusher (or into a blender running at low speed).
10. The ice should form a smooth consistent texture of imperceptible grains (almost like ice cream - no large grains or chunks).
11. Transfer to individual serving glasses.