Lemon Granita

Granitas are a favorite summer treat, and this recipe with lemon juice can be adapted to use your favorite juice, diluted syrup, or soft drink. A light Italian dessert with a refreshing, icy texture, one taste tester dubbed this “the most lemony thing I've ever eaten”!

3/4 cup sugar
1 cup water, divided
Juice of8 lemons (about 1 ¼ cups)
1 cup vodka

Combine sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until all the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Let syrup cool.

Stir the lemon juice, 1/2 cup water and vodka into the cooled syrup. Pour mixture into a 13x9-in. rectangular metal pan and place in the freezer. Stir every few hours, for about 3 hours, until granite is slushy.