1. Combine liquids like water and fruit juice with sugar to form the Italian ice base.
2. Pour the mixture into a shallow, freezer-safe dish.
3. Freeze the mixture for about an hour, until ice crystals begin to form on the edge.
4. Use a fork to stir the mixture and return the mixture to the freezer.
5. Repeat the stirring and freezing process every 20 minutes until the dessert resembles crushed ice.

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• by Denise Ryan

• Italian ice, otherwise known as "granita," is a refreshing, melt-in-your-mouth dessert that's a sophisticated cross between a snow cone and a slush. Most often created with a flavored sugar and water mixture, Italian ice can also be made by freezing a variety of liquids from fruit juice or pureed fruits to espresso or wine.

• Italian ice can be flavored with a multitude of liquids. Following is a basic recipe to create a simple lemon granita. The instructions can be applied to most any Italian ice variation, so feel free to substitute lemon juice with the juice of your choice.

• Once you've gathered the ingredients, create this recipe that makes four to six servings in about two hours (which is mostly freezing time).

1. Simmer the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.Recipezaar: Italian Lemon Ice Granita
2. Stir and simmer until the sugar is dissolved.Recipezaar: Italian Lemon Ice Granita
3. Let the syrup cool.Epicurious: Lemon Granita
4. Stir in the lemon juice and zest.About.com: Granita Lemoni: Lemon Granita
5. Place the baking dish into the freezer for 30 to 60 minutes, until you can see ice crystals around the edges of the Italian ice.Recipezaar: Italian Lemon Ice Granita
6. Stir the syrup with a fork to blend the ice crystals into the mixture.Recipezaar: Lemon Granita
7. Place the dish back in the freezer.
8. Repeat the stirring process every 20 minutes.NPR: Kitchen Window: General Granita-Making Method
   • -If you used a smaller baking dish to freeze your granita (like an 8-inch-by-8-inch dish), stir the mixture every 40 minutes instead to give the thicker layer more time to freeze.NPR: Kitchen Window: General Granita-Making Method
9. The Italian ice is ready to serve once it has the consistency of crushed ice.Recipezaar: Lemon Granita
10. Store the ice in an airtight container in the freezer.Recipezaar: Lemon Granita
    • YouTube Video: Granita-Italian Ice (Time: 4:14)

• The simple Italian ice recipe is a blank canvas for sweet and savory flavors. Try one of these variations to suit your mood or to serve as a complement to your meal.

1. Turn brewed espresso into Italian ice with a sophisticated flavor.Martha Stewart: Espresso Granita
2. Make Italian ice for the adults by adding alcohol like orange liqueur and white rum or vodka.All Recipes: Pomegranate Granita
3. Add soda water to give the Italian ice a lively fizz.BBC Food: Lemonade Granita
4. Turn your Italian ice into a snow cone by pouring flavored syrup over shaved ice.Food Network: Italian Ice Recipe
5. The addition of tarragon gives the ice a slightly savory flavor.Emeril's: Apple Tarragon Granita
6. Use watermelon puree to give the Italian ice a fresh, fruity flavor.Emeril's: My First Watermelon Granita
7. Italian ice becomes a sophisticated appetizer using a flavorful tomato puree and topped with veggies.Epicurious: Sherry Tomato Granita (July 2008)
8. Add spice with Thai red chilies.Food and Wine: Pineapple Granita with Chile and Mint
9. Use a sugar substitute in place of sugar to create a sugar-free version.Recipezaar: Strawberry Italian Ice
10. Combine flavors like pineapple, papaya and coconut to create a tropical ice.Food Network: Tropical Granita
11. Apple juice, cinnamon and nutmeg creates an Italian ice that tastes like apple pie.Food and Wine: Apple Pie Granita (August 2007)