The recipe calls for lemon juice, but you also could use either orange juice or lime juice for a nice variation. Whichever you have on hand will do just fine.

YIELD: 1 QUART

INGREDIENTS

• 8 cups blackberries
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1½ cups sugar
• 1½ cups water

PREPARATION

1. Purée the berries in a food processor or blender with the lemon juice. Press purée through a strainer to remove seeds.
2. Stir in the sugar and water until the sugar is completely dissolved.
3. Refrigerate until chilled.
4. Pour into a covered container and place in the freezer for 1 hour.
5. Remove from freezer, and stir the frozen crystals into the center of the container with a fork.
6. Return the container to the freezer, and repeat the process every 30–45 minutes, stirring carefully each time, until you have a fully frozen container of crystallized granita.