My cookbook I Love You began as a box of recipe cards: a housewarming gift for my sons, inspired by our homegrown traditions and world travel.
Since I don't have a strong sweet tooth, dessert for me is more about being social and having something to share over cards, tea and coffee. A treat for the kids and their friends.
This Watermelon Granita is something beautiful to pull out at a barbecue - either in paper cups or in crystal glasses on a long picnic table outside… the dessert itself is pretty enough.
Not all my dinners end in dessert, but I like to make sure all senses are firing, and a cool treat outside on a hot day is always appreciated.
Serves 4 to 6
- 6 cups diced seeded watermelon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
Combine the watermelon, lemon juice and sugar in a blender and puree on high speed for 1 minute. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a 9-by-13-inch (22.9 x 33 cm) baking pan. Cover and freeze for at least 2 hours.
Use a fork to scrape the frozen mixture to create tiny ice crystals. Return to the freezer and continue checking and scraping every 30 minutes or so until the granita is completely frozen as beautiful flaky crystals. Serve in little bowls.
Pamela Anderson, author of I Love You, is an actress, activist, and lifelong cook and homemaker. Above all else, she says, being a mother to sons Brandon Thomas Lee and Dylan Jagger Lee has been her greatest source of pride.
Excerpted from I Love You by Pamela Anderson. Used with permission of Voracious, via AP.
