Friday, July 15, 2011

Frozen Treats Week #4: Sorbetto di limone

Squeezing lemons 
is hard work
 for a four year old....
but I totally did it!
Sorbetto di Limone (aka Lemon Sherbet)
Adapted from Jamie's Italy
Serves 6
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup lemon juice (we used about 8 lemons)
zest of 1 lemon
1 heaping tablespoon mascarpone


Prefreeze a shallow 8-10 inch container.

Put the sugar and water into a pan and bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and continue to simmer for 5 minutes.  Once the liquid is clear and syrupy, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool for 15 minutes, then add the lemon juice and zest.  Next, add the mascarpone and stir until totally combined.  It's very important that you give it a taste at this point.  It all depends on the sourness of your lemons, and it's very hard to give an exact recipe that is going to hit it right on the head - all I can say is that the amount of sugar I have suggested should do the job.  If, on the other hand it's so sour that it makes your face totally curl up, you know you need to add a little more sugar until it softens the lemon juice.

Pour into your pre-frozen dish and return it to the freezer - leave it for at least an hour before you check it.  If it has started to freeze, fork it up a bit.  Do this maybe every hour or so for the next 3 hours, after which it will be ready to eat.  It can now be kept for a couple of days in the freezer, with plastic wrap over the top - any longer and it will start to get ice crystals in it.  Always a real treat served on its own in a bowl or glass, but also wicked served with whizzed up raspberries -like a fresh sauce - poured over the top.
Notes/Results:  Jamie's lemon sherbet is tart and refreshing, making a terrific light summertime treat and also a great palate cleanser.  This recipe makes 6 teensy weensy servings, but you really wouldn't want to eat much more than a small scoop because it's fairly tart.  In fact, we love lemon, but next time I would probably add a bit more sugar to help balance out the tartness of all the lemon.  This version ended up being a little too tart for the kids (which is a shame since Jackson worked so hard), but my husband and I really enjoyed it.

Theme: Potluck

21 comments:

  1. I wish I could reach into the computer and take your son home with me. No lie. He's so adorable! And I find squeezing lemons to be super difficult also. And I'm 24. Oy.

    This sorbetto sounds so refreshing, Kim!

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  2. What super helper, this looks refreshing.

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  3. Your lemon squeezer is so cute! Too bad the sorbetto was too tart for the kids. This does sound very refreshing - wishing I had some right now :)

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  4. He is adorable! This looks really great and wow it has mascarpone in it! Thanks for the tip on adding more sugar, sounds more kid-friendly that way:)

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  5. I'm doing this. Your prep cook convinced me!

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  6. Ain't he somethin' ! Your sorbet would be a perfect treat for a hot summer afternoon.

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  7. OMG, I love those pictures of your son doing all the hard work LOL. He is a doll.
    Have a great weekend daaaaaahling.
    *kisses* HH

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  8. I wish I had a little helper like your son. He's so cute and I love the sorbet too.

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  9. Ha ha ha...those pictures are so adorable...he is really workin'! This sounds so totally refreshing, I think I'm going to have to put my little ones to work soon ;)

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  10. What a cutie and I can see he's also into drama. Look out Hollywood :-). Your sorbetto sounds delicious. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  11. I love those faces--he needs to be in commercials--so cute! It looks really good--even if a bit tart. I love lemony frozen treats--I just made a sorbet this weekend for Cook the Books and I am making a lemon gelato for Food 'n Flix. ;-)

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  12. He's adorable! Love that last shot, what a face! Looks so good refreshing, too bad it was too tart for the kids. Looks like he had fun anyway :)

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  13. Too cute for words! And I adore his t-shirt!

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  14. Those pictures are riotous! Too cute and funny.

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  15. Love it! So cute!
    Great job, Jackson :)

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  16. Oh my goodness - that is hard week for a wee boy - what a labour of love. I adore lemon sherbert/sorbet, so I am totally going to give this one a try.
    Sue xo

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  17. Your son is so cute! That is hard work indeed! I myself hate squeezing lemons! But the rewards certainly worth it. Your sorbet looks so refreshingly good!

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  18. So, so cute!!! This was a wonderful post. Lemon sorbet is awesome for summer.

    Velva

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  19. The older that kid gets, the more he looks like Bobby Flay. Just sayin'. ;-)
    I so want this! Absolutely perfect for this incredibly humid weather.

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  20. What a great post to remind us of a simple refreshment for these hot summer days. I love the shot of your son; he looks like he must be full of life!

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