Machine Madness

Nothing inspires the purchase of a gadget than the daunting task of having to do it by hand.

In a spirit of exuberant culinary madness the CC purchased a few pounds of cherries at the farmers' market.

The object? Cherry granita.

After pitting the first four cherries by hand, the CC went out and purchased a cherry-pitter.

The same thing happened a few years ago when the juice of 40 lemons beckoned. After the second lemon, it sank in really quickly what one was up against, and a juicer was purchased.

Reality has a rude tendency of intruding on culinary flights of fancy.

Cherry Granita

Ingredients

2 lb cherries (pitted)
1 tbsp sea salt
2 tbsp lime juice (read below)

Recipe

Blend the cherries in a blender. Pass through a fine sieve.

Add the salt, and the lime juice depending on the tartness of the cherries. You want the final mixture to be quite liquid, slightly salty, and on the tarter side.

Put it in the freezer. Every hour initially, break up the ice as it forms. After a while, you will need to break it up every half hour or so, and then every fifteen minutes. Takes about 6-7 odd hours in summer (which is when you want it anyway.)