Guest Author - Anita Burroughs

Frozen desserts are wonderful year round, and need not be limited to ice cream.

I bought an ice cream maker years ago, which motivated me to explore many wonderful frozen recipes. One which intrigued me was a Rosemary Grapefruit Sorbet, which is a fabulous winter dessert, when the grapefruits are at their sweetest. My guests are often nervous at trying a dessert made with fresh rosemary, but they quickly get past the idea that fresh herbs don’t belong in a dessert after tasting this dish.

Here’s the recipe, for which you’ll need an ice cream maker:

Rosemary Grapefruit Sorbet

One cup Simple Syrup (see recipe below)
2 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
Two cups of pink grapefruit juice, from 3-4 fresh grapefruits, strained

In a small pot, bring the sprigs of rosemary and the prepared simple syrup to a simmer. Cook for just 30 seconds, and then strain the mixture into a bowl.

Stir the strained grapefruit juice into the rosemary syrup. Then take this mixture and refrigerate it until it is quite cold, at least 3-4 hours. When you are ready to make the sorbet, place it in an ice cream maker, and turn on according to manufacturer’s instructions. I find that this sorbet tastes best if eaten the same day it is made, although it is still wonderful when it has been frozen. Also, I do not recommend using anything but fresh grapefruit juice squeezed from the grapefruit. The flavor will be compromised if you use bottled or canned juice.

Recipe for Simple Syrup:

This syrup is the basis for most sorbets.
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups water

In a small pot, bring the sugar and the water to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Then, allow the syrup to simmer for another minute or two. Then you can turn off the heat and let the mixture cool before you add it to the grapefruit juice. You can store any extra syrup in the refrigerator for quite some time.

This grapefruit sorbet is delicious on its own as a dessert, or as a palate cleanser between courses. Try serving the sorbet in a fun glass, such as a martini or wine glass, along with your favorite cookie. This is also a wonderful low fat dessert!

Ice cream makers can be purchased at most kitchen stores. Some will also offer refurbished models. Check Ebay if you want to buy a used ice cream maker, or a new one at a discount. I buy kitchen supplies with confidence from Ebay all the time. Just make sure you make your purchase from someone who has gotten a significant amount of positive feedback from buyers.