Sunday, May 30, 2010

Fresh Lemon Sorbet


Now that the weather is getting warmer and summer is upon us, I think it's time for a refreshing frozen taste treat. Don't you agree?
 If you've never had sorbet, it's sort of like water ice, only smoother. It's like a more gourmet version of water ice. Oh, and I must say, just for the record, sorbet is not the same as sherbet. Yes, I know some people use those two words interchangeably, but it's just not so. Even though the word "sherbet" is derived from the word "sorbet", a sherbet is usually creamy in texture because of the addition of, well yes, you guessed it, cream! So now you know. I'm really glad we cleared that up. Aren't you?
 Anyway, give this a try, and serve it as a refreshing treat on a hot day. Also, a small scoop would be the perfect thing to cleanse one's palate between courses of your next elegant dinner.
Love it!

2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
    Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat, and place in the fridge. Once it's chilled, combine the syrup with the lemon juice and zest and pour into the bowl of an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. After the sorbet is made, transfer to an airtight container. Cover tightly and freeze until ready to serve.

    Tip:
    -For an easy variation, simply substitute orange or lime juice and zest in place of the lemon. I must say, I'm particularly fond of the orange variation. You won't believe how refreshing it is!! It's like eating a frozen orange. SO yummy!
     -Before you pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker, give it a quick taste to see if it suits you. Everyone has a different idea of what is too sweet or too tart. Especially when using lemon or lime, you don't want it to taste like lemonade concentrate. You know, like the kind you add to a pitcher of water?
    -I use a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. It couldn't be easier to use. You just leave the canister in the freezer until you're ready to use it. Then you just pour in the chilled ingredients and turn it on. In a matter of 30 minutes, you have sorbet! How easy is that? If you have the means, I HIGHLY recommend picking one up!

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