Coconut-Lime Shaved Ice

2 cups sugar

½ cup water

cup lime juice

Zest of 2 limes

Cream of coconut, to drizzle

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, lime juice and lime zest. Heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool completely. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To use with shaved ice, drizzle a bit of the syrup over a cone or bowl of ice, then drizzle cream of coconut over the top.

Alternatively, to make granita, stir another 1½ cups of water and ½ cup lime juice into the entire batch of chilled syrup. Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch pan and freeze. Every 20 minutes, use a fork to scrape and stir the mixture until it is firm with small ice crystals. Gently fold and swirl ½ cup cream of coconut into the mixture, then scoop into bowls to serve.

Serves 16.

Nutrition values per serving: 90 calories, 1.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 23 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 0 protein, 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium.

Alison Ladman