California Strawberry Granita with Marinated Berries

== Description ==
Yield: 24 servings
== Ingredients ==
=== Granita ===
* 1 pound, 12 ounces sugar
* 4 cups water
* 3 cinnamon sticks
* 4 pounds, 12 ounces stemmed California strawberries
* ¼ cup lemon juice
* dash salt
=== Cookie cups ===
* 13 ounces blanched almonds
* ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
* 6½ ounces butter
* 6 ounces sugar
* 1½ tablespoons anisette
* 4¼ ounces all-purpose flour
=== Marinated berries ===
* 2 pounds, 12 ounces stemmed California strawberries
* 8 ounces blueberries, raspberries or blackberries
* 4 ounces brown sugar
* ⅔ cup orange juice
* ¼ cup cointreau
* sweetened whipped cream (optional) as needed
== Directions ==
=== Granita ===
# In saucepan combine sugar, water and cinnamon sticks.
# Bring to boil, stirring; boil 1 minute.
# Cool.
# Puree strawberries in food processor or blender until smooth.
# Strain out seeds in fine sieve.
# In chilled hotel pan thoroughly mix strawberry puree, lemon juice, salt and enough of the cooled sugar syrup to balance strawberry flavor.
# Place in freezer.
# As mixture begins to freeze, chip the frozen portion with the tines of a fork every 30 to 45 minutes until no liquid remains.
# Place in airtight container, cover and store in freezer up to 2 weeks.
=== Cookie cups ===
# In food processor grind almonds medium-fine.
# Place in sieve; shake out dust.
# In saucepan over low heat combine corn syrup, butter and sugar.
# Stir until butter and sugar is completely melted.
# Remove from heat.
# Mix in anisette, and then flour to blend thoroughly.
# Portion rounded tablespoonfuls of batter onto parchment-lined sheet pans, spacing apart, and flatten slightly (each cookie will be about 5 inches in diameter when baked).
# Bake in 350°F oven about 6 to 8 minutes until evenly golden brown.
# Cool slightly; lift with spatula and shape into pointed cups in 6-ounce martini glasses (if cookies cool too much to shape, return to oven for a minute or two to soften).
# When cups are hard and cool, store in an airtight container up to three days.
=== Marinated berries ===
# Combine ingredients in bowl at least 15 minutes before serving.
# For each serving to order:.
# Place cookie cup in martini glass; fill with ½ cup granita and top with ⅓ cup marinated berries.
# Top with whipped cream, if desired.
__NOTOC__
Category:Almond Recipes
Category:Anisette Recipes
Category:Blackberry Recipes
Category:Blueberry Recipes
Category:Raspberry Recipes
Category:Strawberry Recipes
Category:Brown sugar Recipes
Category:Cointreau Recipes
Category:Light corn syrup Recipes
Category:Lemon juice Recipes
Category:Orange juice Recipes