Growing up one of my favorite summer delights was Italian ice. It was a sweet, tart, cold and refreshing treat! Every week my Mom would buy some from the grocery store and the same night my siblings and I would each get one to enjoy!
Our neighbors recently went on vacation and before they left they dropped off some food. Inside was a bag of lemons that were starting to go bad. I immediately had a craving for my childhood memory of lemon Italian ice.
My blonde sweet girl and I got to work in the kitchen as we created this amazing, tastes just like childhood, lemon Italian ice! My kids can’t get enough and have been asking everyday for a little bowl of this summer in a cup!
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 cups water
- 14 large lemons-it makes about 1 3/4 cups
- a handful basil leaves -optional
- Put water and sugar in a pot on the stove and place on low heat, allow to come to a soft boil to make a simple syrup.
- While the water and sugar are doing their thing-
- Zest three lemons and set aside the zest.
- Cut lemons in half and squeeze into a bowl. If you have a juicer it will come in handy! If not, you can take a strainer and place it in a bowl. Squeeze lemons over strainer so that the juice goes through to the bowl and the pits stay behind!
- Spoon out the pulp of 3 lemons and add to juice.
- Add zest.
- Remove the simple syrup off the stove and stir in lemon juice.
- Place juice mixture in a freezer safe container and then into the freezer!
- After 2 hours, using a fork, mix up what is now like slush.
- You can do 2 things: either leave it in the freezer until it maintains your desired Italian ice consistency, or after 2 hours you can transfer the slush to your ice cream maker and follow the instructions for ices/sorbet.
- I made mine at night, so I left it in the freezer over night and woke up the next morning to the perfect lemon Italian ice! I add basil from my garden as a garnish, I love the combination together!
- Enjoy 🙂
Leslie says
I love Italian ice! I bet this is yummy stuff. I like your table cloth too. Thanks for sharing! I hope you & the family have a great Monday.
CathyM says
I love Italian ice! It still tastes amazing even a couple of days later! 🙂 Thanks Leslie for always stopping by and loving my recipes 🙂
Simply Suzannes at Home says
Hi Cathy!
Thanks so much for coming by and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate every one of them! So happy that I came by today. This looks like it would be so much fun to make with my kids! Also looks like a great remedy for HOT Summer days :0)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Have a great week,
Suzanne
CathyM says
Thank you Suzanne for returning the gesture, I also really appreciate your taking the time to stop over! Your ability to capture your recipes in a certain light is amazing! Oh, this Italian ice was sure refreshing on hot summer's night! 🙂
Damjana says
Oooooo, there's more yummy summer treats here! Cathy, I seriously need to start followin you.
Thanks for dropping by at my place, too 🙂
CathyM says
🙂 Thank you! It will be great getting to know you better, I enjoyed your blog!
AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa says
How fabulous to have a recipe for Italian lemon ice! Thank you! Pinned!
CathyM says
Thank you so much for stopping by and for pinning this recipe! I truly appreciate both! 🙂
Carly says
This looks great and so easy too, pinning for future 🙂
#TurnItUpTuesday
CathyM says
Carly, thanks for checking out this recipe and for pinning! I truly appreciate both 🙂
Michelle Furlong says
This looks for refreshing. Pinned!
CathyM says
Thanks so much Michelle for pinning and checking out this recipe 🙂
Jennie says
Look good! I will have to make this for my family!
Come link up with me today!
http://thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com
CathyM says
Thanks Jenny so much for stopping by and for the invitation to your party! I'll be over soon 🙂
Diane | An Extraordinary Day says
I want some lemon ice now too! How delicious and refreshing!
Thanks for sharing your recipe and gorgeous photos with us at Project Inspire{d}!
CathyM says
Diane, thanks so much! I brought some out last night after dinner and it was a big hit! 🙂
Melissa French - The More With Less Mom says
Ooooh I want this! Thank you for sharing. Hello from Fabulous Finds.
CathyM says
Hello there Melissa! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! 🙂
Miz Helen says
Thanks so much for sharing your awesome Italian Ice with us at Full Plate Thursday, Cathy! Hope you are having a really fun day and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
CathyM says
Miz Helen, always a pleasure to have you stop by! Hope that you are having a great weekend!
shel young says
Hi stopping by from friday favourites linky 🙂
this looks yummy! Will definitely be giving this a go! 😀
Shel @ Sweet Petite
CathyM says
Thanks so much Shel for taking the timer to check out this recipe 🙂
Kimberly Lewis says
Perfect for summer! Pinned. Thanks again for stopping by our party. I hope to see you tonight. Lou Lou Girls
CathyM says
Sweet, thanks so much for pinning! I really appreciate it! 🙂
NewMrsAdventures says
Definitely will be trying this this Summer! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
CathyM says
Thanks for stopping by and for pinning! 🙂
Leia says
That sounds yummy and refreshing! Thanks for sharing at On Display Thursday, come again!
-Leia @ Eat It & Say Yum
CathyM says
Leia thanks so much for checking out this recipe!
Deb Attinella {CookingOnTheFrontBurner} says
Hi Cathy, tomorrow night I'll be featuring this at Best of the Weekend on my blog to go with an Italian round-up… looks so refreshing!!
CathyM says
Hi Deb! Whoo Hoo thanks so very much for the feature, it means a lot to me coming from you! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
bakewelljunction says
Cathy,
Thanks for linking up to #GetHimFed last week. I'm featuring your post on #GetHimFed No. 45. Can’t wait to see what you bring this week. We party from early Friday morning through Sunday night every week. I’ve also pinned to our #GetHimFed Pinterest board.
Annamaria
CathyM says
Anna Maria, thank you so much for stopping by and for featuring this recipe! I really appreciate it very much! 🙂