Shakin & Bakin Foodie Blog

Did you know that Christopher Columbus brought the first orange to America in 1493? Or that Navel Oranges are named after the belly button shape near the bottom? Well now you do! Why the orange-centric trivia? Because August is National Orange Month!

In the US, about 25 billion oranges are cultivated every year, and this fruit is the fourth-most popular fruit in the country. Oranges are rich in vitamin C, which is required by the human body. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which boosts the body's immune system, body's iron absorption capacity, reduces the risk of heart diseases and facilitates healing of wounds. Since vitamin C is not produced by the body, its supply has to be fed into the body on a regular basis. Besides vitamin C, oranges are also rich in fiber which helps increase the level of good cholesterol in the blood, regulates the blood sugar levels and helps in preventing colon cancer. Oranges also contain calcium, potassium, magnesium and Vitamin B6.

Sparkling Orange Mango Granita Recipe

6 oranges, emptied and shells frozen
1 mango, peeled and pitted
1 bottle of Orange Mango Sparkling ICE
½ cup water
¼ cup sugar

Cut the oranges in half and scoop out the pulp for later use. A thin layer can be sliced off the bottom of the orange halves to create a flat surface and prevent them from rolling around when serving. Freeze empty orange shells.

Note: For easier scooping, roll the oranges by hand before cutting in half, using a firm downward pressure to loosen the pulp.

Optional: For extra texture chop ½ of the oranges and ½ of the mango into tiny pieces and make sure to remove all seeds. This is optional and can be omitted if you want to have smoother texture. At the end of the freezing, the small chunks of fruit pieces taste like sweet hard candy mixed in with the granita.

Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. When the sugar is totally dissolved, remove from heat and allow to cool. Using a juicer, extract juice from the oranges and mango and add with the Sparkling ICE.

Pour the mixture into a shallow glass dish and place level in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours, mixing gently with a fork every 20 minutes until it forms ice crystals and thickens. The frequent mixing will keep the granita from freezing into a solid block.

Fill orange shells with frozen granita mixture and serve immediately. Enjoy!