Orange Granita

Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 6 oranges
• 4 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
• sugar, to taste
• 3 sprigs basil
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur (recommended -- grand marnier)

Recipe

• 1 clean and wash the oranges.
• 2 cut off the top 1/4 of the oranges and shave a small slice off the bottom so it stands easily.
• 3 using a grapefruit knife, cut out the flesh of the oranges and place in a strainer set over a bowl.
• 4 be careful not to cut through the bottom.
• 5 stand the oranges on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer and freeze until solid.
• 6 press the flesh of the oranges through the strainer to extract all of the juice.
• 7 you should end up with about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups of orange juice.
• 8 add the extra 4 cups orange juice. stir in sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is of desired sweetness. add the basil and orange-flavored liqueur and let sit for 15 minutes.
• 9 strain the mixture into a roasting pan or baking dish.
• 10 the dish should be large enough so the liquid is not more than 1-inch deep. freeze the mixture for 1 hour.
• 11 remove from the freezer and scrape with 2 forks to break up ice.
• 12 return to the freezer and freeze until solid, about 2 to 3 hours, scraping with forks every hour or so.
• 13 when the granite is frozen, scoop it into the orange shells and serve immediately.