Photo: Ashley Rodriguez
Although the official start of summer is still 20 days away, as far as we're concerned 80-degree weather, a plethora of white shoe sightings and watermelons for sale at the green market mean the season is well underway. And as temperatures continue to rise, there's nothing more satisfying than an icy-cold treat.
No ice cream maker? No problem. For the next three weeks we'll be bringing you a selection of sub-zero sweets that require little to no specialty equipment to prepare or serve. First up: a refreshing Moroccan-inspired grapefruit salad topped with a sweet milk granita that requires nothing more than a fork and a freezer.
RECIPE
Grapefruit Salad
2 large grapefruits, segmented
1 meyer lemon, segmented
2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
1/4 cup dates, thinly sliced
Sweet Milk Granita
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 1/4 cups hot water
1/2 vanilla bean, split
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Recipe courtesy of Ashley Rodriguez of Not Without Salt. Visit Not Without Salt for preparation instructions.
Photo: Ashley Rodriguez
REGISTRY ITEMS
Fat Daddio's cake pans
One of Ashley's secrets for a granita that freezes quickly and uniformly is a shallow cake pan. Fat Daddio's are made of anodized aluminum, a material that's non-reactive with dairy ingredients, which ensures that your granita will taste of nothing but sweet milk and vanilla.
9-inch square cake pan, $19.95, Sur La Table
Prepara herb savors
The summer growing season usually means an excess of homegrown tomatoes and fresh herbs. Keep your mint fresh as can be with these savors that immerse stems in water AND fit inside a fridge door.
Mini herb savors, $32.95 for set of three, Wayfair
Kuhn Rikon paring knife
Paring knives are indispensable kitchen tools for everything from peeling apples to segmenting citrus. Cheerful colors and a nonstick finish make this a kitchen must-have.
4-inch paring knife, $11.95, Linens 'n Things
Normann Copenhagen whisk
Use whisks to aerate and evenly incorporate wet ingredients. This well-designed whisk comes in a variety of hues, compacts for easy storage in crowded drawers, and guarantees there will be flecks of vanilla in every bite.
Compact beater whisk, $18, Gretel Home
Mud Australia dessert bowl
Shallow bowls with a handmade feel allow you to arrange individual portions of citrus and granita that look as fantastic as they taste.
Dessert bowl, $35, TableArt
Sabre dessert spoons
Wallet-friendly accents are the perfect way to add fun and exoticism to your table setting. Acrylic dessert spoons with a Moroccan flair are perfect for scooping up spoonfuls of tangy grapefruit and icy granita.
"Marrakech" teaspoons, $26 for set of four, Leif Shop
Allem Studio napkins
Eye-catching geometric patterns in a neutral color palette match well with both contemporary and casual dinnerware patterns.
"Jaali" napkins, $40 for set of four, Allem Studio
Harney & Sons Moroccan teapot and glasses
Serve your dessert course with a complementary cooling beverage. Brew an antioxidant-packed tea (we love Celestial Seasonings' blackberry pomegranate green tea) in a table-ready pot, then serve over ice in a bright pink glass.
Glass teapot, $110 and tea glass, $12, Harney & Sons
—Arielle Shipper
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