With temperatures hitting the 30s this week, Australia has had a taste of summer and the time is ripe to cool down with ice-cold, refreshing treats. I smiled when I saw my friend and fellow Canberra blogger Zoe's tweet with a picture of her kiddies cooling off under the sprinkler, as it reminded of some memorable water fights with family and friends, and also of one stinking hot December about four years ago when Peter and I rented a place just off ANZAC Parade. After walking home from the city in 30+ degrees every afternoon, we'd strip down to our underwear and (like a pair of children) hose each other off in the privacy of the park-like back garden. Talk about a great way to chill out! I got to thinking about the summers of my childhood. Being European, my father eventually turned much of our back garden into concrete (God love him!). Yes, that old chestnut about Europeans is true! Of course, he took great pleasure in hosing it clean most evenings during the warmer months. There were always messy little grapes and leaves dropping from the vines on the overhead trellis, and dad was fastidious with keeping the driveway clean. He would sometimes turn the nozzle onto a fine mist and spray me while I was riding my tricycle. One summer afternoon when I arrived home from school, the front door was locked and, to my surprise, my mum wasn't at home. I walked through the side gate and around the corner towards the back door. There, glistening in the sunshine against the stark white of the hot concrete was a little vivid blue swimming pool filled to the brim with cold water, a birthday gift from my parents. I can still remember actually rubbing my eyes to check if it was real and could barely wait to don my swimmers/togs/cozzies and dip in. How time flies... that was almost fifty years ago and as I sit at the kitchen table on a warm December evening, my birthday approaching, reflecting and writing this post, I'm cooling off with mouthfuls of a gorgeous granita concoction from Nicola Graimes and her latest book, New Vegetarian Kitchen. You'll need only a few ingredients for this 'grown up granita': good quality vodka, together with market fresh seedless watermelon, a lemon, a lime and a pomegranate, together with a scant amount of caster sugar. Here's my take on the recipe. It's simply delicious and too good not to share. Enjoy! WATERMELON AND VODKA CRUSH WITH POMEGRANATE 1.5kg seedless watermelon, skin removed, flesh cut into wedges 1/3 cup vanilla infused caster sugar 5 tablespoons vodka juice of a lemon zest of a lime seeds from one pomegranate*, to serve Puree the watermelon flesh in a blender or food processor. Then press the mixture through a sieve (this is the messiest, hardest part, but hang in there). Stir in the vodka, the sugar and the lemon juice. Pour into a freezer proof container, seal and freeze. Or, pour into four to six cone shaped moulds, per the author's original recipe. Freeze for 3-4 hours, or overnight, until frozen. Remove from the refrigerator about 15-20 minutes before you intend to serve (this will allow the mixture to soften), then run the prongs of a fork through the ice crystals. Sprinkle with lime zest and pomegranate seeds and serve. Any leftovers will keep well in the freezer. Serves 6-8. * There is a brilliant way to remove seeds from a pomegranate here. The process in pictures...Drum roll please...Incidentally, vodka sits very well with watermelon and for another adults only refresher, serve wedges of chilled watermelon with shot glasses of icy cold vodka, an idea a la Lyndey Milan. Simply delicious! Recipe road tested with the kind permission of Simon & Schuster Australia. Thank you. So, what's your favourite way to cool down on a hot day? And did you play under the sprinkler when you were little, or more recently? What are your plans for Christmas? ; D
20/12/2012 05:06:29 pm
I was such a water baby, I'd spend the whole summer on the beach or in the pool .... nothing's changed 30 years on and you'll still find me in the surf or lazing by the pool! Watermelon juice is a fav... I'll have to add vodka in - haven't tried that! Have a lovely Christmas :)
Lizzy
20/12/2012 05:15:45 pm
Hello there Cheyanne Ainsworth! Isn't it divine to laze by the pool or in the surf! I cannot wait to get into the ocean and get some sun onto my bod. Enjoy your Christmas too, and thanks for stopping by xo 20/12/2012 08:27:34 pm
Dear Lizzy,
Lizzy
20/12/2012 08:29:56 pm
Dear Chopinand, thank you! Do try this, especially in the hot weather. And season's eatings to you and yours, my friend! 21/12/2012 08:47:35 am
How refreshing, I'll have to save this to try in the summer!
Lizzy
22/12/2012 08:46:55 am
Laura, oh, yes, do indeed! I wish I could send you a sample, but it really does need a scorching hot day to accompany it! Season's eatings xo 21/12/2012 09:23:18 am
Yes please!
Lizzy
22/12/2012 08:47:52 am
Hi Bec, isn't that unfortunate about water restrictions and kids playing under the sprinkler. There's nothing quite as much fun on a hot day! Season's eatings my friend xo 21/12/2012 04:16:06 pm
This looks so wonderfully refreshing! What a great addition to any summer time dinner!
Lizzy
22/12/2012 08:48:43 am
Thank you Clare, it certainly is refreshing! Of course, the vodka can be omitted, but then it wouldn't be quite as much fun. Season's eatings xo 21/12/2012 07:00:22 pm
I really do not need you to encourage me to drink Lizzy....I already love vodka. This looks so delicious.....Oh dear
Lizzy
22/12/2012 08:49:19 am
LOL... then dip in and enjoy! Season's eatings ; )
Lizzy
22/12/2012 08:50:22 am
Glenda, I think I knew that too, but forgot. Thanks so much for reminding me! I have three beautiful specimens that I can preserve. Season's eatings xo 2/1/2013 09:42:03 am
Ooo! I never seem to use vodka, so our bottle sits unloved in the cupboard. I'll be making use of this recipe!
Gabriella
3/1/2013 06:47:53 pm
I can almost taste this it looks so good. We were lucky enough to have a pool when we were young so spent much time in that, although Mum did hose us down when we were very small...there was also slip n slide fun to be had at parties with friends! :-D 15/1/2014 06:27:06 pm
G'day! Looks terrific Lizzy! Refreshing and cool! Comments are closed.
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Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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