Disappointed by the meager snowfall we've seen in New York City this winter, I decided that if I can't enjoy snow on the ground, I might as well enjoy it (or a better-tasting lookalike, at least) on my plate. More

Making shaved ice using this technique is incredibly easy. More

Looking for a way to mix things up in the cocktail department, I paired fruity shaved ice with cool sake to create a delicious, boozy granita. I used a cantaloupe because of its sweet and musky flavor and added a little fresh ginger and lime juice to jazz it up. More

This simple, refreshing dessert is a great option if you want a frozen treat but don't have an ice cream maker. More

I often hear people lament their inability to make frozen desserts for lack of equipment. But nothing's quite as satisfying as pulling dessert out of the freezer at the end of a long meal—nodding, yes, it is homemade. For these occasions, we have granita, one of the easiest and most elegant desserts ever made. The ingredients couldn't be simpler, the technique no more elementary. And they wake up the palate like nothing else. No ice cream maker required. More

Our first Cook the Book column of 2011 is going to feature Amanda Hesser's newly released The Essential New York Times Cookbook, a compilation favorite recipes spanning the paper's 160 years. As an intro to the feature we thought we'd bring you a sneak peak: a Bourbon Slush perfect for New Year's Eve. More

The solution to my temporary lack of an ice cream maker was simple and refreshing Blueberry Orange Basil Granita. The granita originated in Sicily and I've always thought of it as the Italian version of a slushie. I adapted this recipe from a basic template outlined in The Ciao Bella Book of Gelato and Sorbetto. Blueberries and orange juice are pureed and then placed in a shallow pan in the freezer. The mixture is chilled for 3 to 4 hours, and stirred every half hour to break up the forming ice crystals. When finished the granita should be almost frozen and then scraped into light flakes of shaved ice. More

Somewhere between sorbet and a sno-cone, a granita is the perfect refreshment when you're hot, cranky, and looking for an excuse to stick your face in the freezer every 30 minutes. This slideshow will teach you how to make your own granita by stirring some simple syrup into basically anything. More

Sitting in my AC-less apartment with the fan blowing hot air in my face, it's hard to think about anything except how frigging hot it is in the Northeast. Record-breakingly hot. Temper-breakingly hot. Now, this doesn't necessarily put everyone in the mood to scarf a chocolate bar, but here are four ways to get your cocoa fix while staying cool. More