Shaved Frozen Fruit - Melon Mania

This cool, fruity summer treat is made from icy shavings of fresh frozen melons -- watermelon, Tuscan melon, and honeydew. This is a delightfully nutritious alternative to the snow cone and with a much juicier texture and bite. Melons make incredible edible "snow" because of their high water content, which makes great ice. Melons are also naturally sweet and refreshing, pairing well with a twist of key lime in this shaved frozen fruit combination.

You'll need an ice shaver with molds. I have had my ice shaver since the late 1990's and it hasn't failed me. It is a simple hand-cranked shaver that can still be bought today and, in fact, is always on many lists of top snow-cone machines and ice shavers.

You'll need a variety of melons as well as a couple of key limes. Of course, you can turn any variety of mixed fruits into shaved frozen fruit and get creative with the combinations.

Peel and cut the melons to about 1/2" cubes.

Making shaved frozen fruit can be as simple as putting frozen fruit chunks in the ice shaver, however, that isn't the best method, especially not when using a vintage hand-cranked ice shaver. Molding the fruit chunks together into a single mass before freezing yields much better results.

You will need a fruit juice base to help mold the fruit chunks. It serves two purposes: 1) to bring the fruits together in a single mass that is smoother to shave; and 2) to add more texture and flavor variation, and who doesn't want a surprise flavor twist?

For the melons, I used a base of key limeade. Melons and limes pair naturally together. The tartness of the key limes balances out the sweetness of the melons. They go so well, in fact, that there is a new variety of melon called limelon, for which I've been on the hunt.

This key limeade is made from a couple of squeezed key limes, some water, and slightly sweetened with monk fruit to taste.

Pour the key limeade into the mold of fruits until filled. Freeze overnight or at least 8 hours until solid.

Run the bottom of the mold under warm tap water to unmold the frozen fruit puck.

Place the frozen fruit puck bottom (flat) side up. Having the flat side up will allow the machine's prongs to better attach to the puck to give a smoother shave.

Shave the frozen melons into a bowl.

Enjoy your beautiful, colorful mountain of frozen melon ice!