Espresso Granita plus a Fab Giveaway!

 What’s the coffee like at your place?

And, more relevantly, are you a caffeine addict?

Me, I’ve always been a tea drinker, mainly because the smell of coffee is always better than how it ultimately tastes. And I’m very fond of the saying, ‘Some drink coffee because they have to; others drink tea because they want to’, with the implication that coffee addicts need one to get through the morning, while we tea drinkers are so discerning with our white, green and grown-on-a-dewdropped-mountain varieties.

Then, out of nowhere, I’m suddenly having a coffee in the morning, and maybe one in the afternoon. A ‘weak long black with a dash of cold milk’ is my current drink of choice, meaning that I’m well on the way to a one-and-a-half-shot-macchiato-thanks. Really, I can’t get enough of the stuff, dammit!

Here is a beautiful way to get a daily dose of caffeine goodness into your diet. This fabulous espresso granita is not too strong, a little bit sweet, and keeps you coming back for more. Kind of like me, hahaha…

Plus, please stick around for a fantastic giveaway – your very own espresso maker and elegant coffee cups.

Espresso Granita

serves 4

Ingredients

¼ cup caster sugar

_2/3 cup water

a few drops of vanilla extract

1 cup of freshly brewed espresso coffee, cooled

Whipped cream, to serve

Method

It’s best to start this recipe about 3 hours before you want to serve it.

1. For the sugar syrup: place the sugar, water and vanilla in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then increase the heat to high and bring to the boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for about 4 minutes, until the syrup thickens slightly. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

2. Meanwhile, place a metal loaf pan or shallow metal tray (10cm x 20cm) into the freezer to chill. When the syrup has cooled, pour it into the metal pan together with the cooled espresso. Place in the freezer. After about 1 hour, use a fork to scrape up the partially frozen granita, then put it back in the freezer.  Do the same scraping thing 40 minutes after that, then repeat in 40 minute intervals, 2 more times, or until ready to serve.

3. To serve, spoon the granita into glasses and top with whipped cream. 

The basis for the granita is espresso coffee, made here in a Bialetti Moka Express.

You could win one! Read on...

 After a bit of scraping and freezer-watching, the granita is ready.

Topped with unsweetened whipped cream, it's just like a cold, refreshing Vienna coffee.

 The Bodum Pavina double-walled glasses keep the granita frozen and delicious.

And you could win these glasses - read on!

By the way, I used caramel-flavoured coffee beans, so the granita tasted just like Kahlua, but without the alcohol. Sooo good!

Still waiting for the giveaway? Then read on...

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Kitchenware Direct Giveaway!

 

Thanks to Kitchenware Direct, (and particularly Brad from Kitchenware Direct!) you could Win! Win! Win!

That’s right, make your morning coffee (or anytime coffee) like the Italians do, with this sturdy Bialetti ‘Moka’ stovetop espresso maker. It’s a handy 3-cup size, and it’s so easy to store away, clean and use. 

And to enjoy your just-right brew, the prize comes with a set of Bodum Pavina double-walled espresso cups, to keep your coffee warm and your fingers cool.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post, with the magic words “Un Espresso, per favore!” (or email, details below). Entries close midnight 16^th September 2012. Prize can only be delivered to Australian addresses. Other conditions are below. Good luck!
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Update: This competition is now Closed.
Congratulations to the winner of the Kitchenware Direct products: Andrea L (via email)

And Thanks to all who entered.

 

Conditions of Entry

1. Entry to this contest is by a comment on this post containing the words “Un Espresso, per favore!”. Alternatively, enter by sending an email to oohlookbel2000 [at] gmail [dot] com

2. Entries close at midnight 16 September 2012.

3. Winner will be randomly selected

4. The prize can only be delivered to Australian addresses. Prize will be supplied and delivered by Kitchenware Direct.

5. Please include an email address or your blog URL in your entry so I can contact you if you win.