Watermelon Cherry Ginger Granita

The weather is HOT, HOT, HOT.  No one wants to move, and everyone wants something cool and delicious.  So, I've been making different flavors of granita for everyone to enjoy.  They are so easy, and very inexpensive to make, not to mention cool and refreshing!!

You will need 1/2 of a medium sized watermelon
3 cups of pitted sweet cherries
fresh ginger
lemon juice

Peel, cut, and seed your watermelon into chunks.  You will need about 6 cups of melon.  You can purchase a seedless melon if you don't like spending the time removing the seeds, but you can just use a fork to remove the seeds really fast from the melon.

Grate 2 Tabs of fresh ginger

Now add your melon, cherries, and ginger to a blender.

Puree for about 45 seconds.

 Everything will be nice and smooth.

Now add 2 Tabs of lemon juice, and blend for another 30 seconds.

 Pour your mixture into a metal baking pan.  Place the pan into the freezer for 4 hours

 When you remove it from the freezer, it will be partially frozen.

Use a fork to and scrape all the mixture, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom.  Put the mixture back into the freezer for another 4 hours.

After the 2nd 4 hours, (8 hours total), this is what your fruit mixture looks like.  Again use a fork and scrape the mixture from the top to the bottom.  

You now have a wonderful delicious tasting watermelon/cherry/ginger granita dessert.  The hardest part was waiting for it to freeze!!

Here is a watermelon/mango granita dessert that I made with the other half of my watermelon - so yummy!!!  Now go make some, and have a wonderful relaxing cool afternoon.

Note:  if you want to make granita using other fruits, (i.e.: strawberries/blueberries/mango - anything other than watermelon, then you will need to add a simple syrup to the blender.  But if you are using watermelon, the fruit will have enough sugar and water that there is no need for the simple syrup).