the red queen’s rose petal ice

~ rose petal ice ~

“Would you tell me, please,” said Alice, a little timidly, “why you are painting those roses?”

Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began, in a low voice, “Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red ose tree, and we put a white one in by mistake…” ~Alice in Wonderland

Inspired by one of my favorite summer beverages, rosewater lemonade, I invented an Italian ice with the same tart flavor of lemons, the bright flavor of cherries and the mysterious essence of roses. Beautiful for a garden tea party…perhaps you could invite the Red Queen and paint the roses red? 😉

2 cups water

2 cups sugar

juice from 4 large lemons

1/2 cup cherry juice (bottled or canned in fine)

2 teaspoons culinary rosewater

Boil the water and sugar. Set aside to cool for 20 minutes. Add the fruit juices and rosewater. Pour into a freezer safe bowl and “rake” with a fork every hour until the ice is the desired consistency. It will take at least 8 hours for it to be set enough to be scoopable, so you may want to mix this up and let it set in the freezer over night. Serve in pretty teacups, parfait cups, or ice bowls with flowers frozen inside of them. Tiny scoops of this served in pony glasses make wonderful palate cleansers between courses of an elaborate meal.

Enjoy!

~Melissa