Tuesday Treat: Blackberry Ice

Blackberry Ice is a great summer dessert or snack, with an undertone of black pepper to kick your taste buds into gear. It may seem like a strange combination, but the flavors blend beautifully. The combination of sweetness, tartness, and almost undetectable salty and spicy flavors might also make this a good appetizer to wake up your mouth and increase its response to other flavors.

This recipe has not been tested on any chemo patients yet, so please share your experiences! Do note that as a frozen dish, it will not be well suited to any patients experiencing the temperature-sensitivity that I encountered. Thanks to Chef John for sharing this recipe through allrecipes.com.

A serving of Blackberry Ice. I little bit goes a long way!

Blackberry Ice

Ingredients:

• 6 tbsp water

• 5 sugar

• 2 c blackberries

• scant 1/4 tsp black pepper

• < 1/8 tsp salt

1. In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat until the mixture simmers, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

2. When syrup has cooled, combine with the remaining ingredients in a blender. Blend until berries are liquified and (with the exception of the seeds) smooth.

3. Strain the mixture into a shallow dish to remove seeds.

4. Cover dish and freeze.

5. When mixture is solid, scrape with a fork to create a fluffy, granular texture. This can be eaten immediately or put back in the freezer until you are ready to serve.

Tips & Variations

• ​Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remember that reaching a certain threshold of each will help intensify your ability to taste the other flavors - and that that threshold may be below the point where you can taste the salt or pepper specifically.

• Try changing up the fruit and seasonings to suit your tastes or to adapt to what is in season.

• Do note that there is raw fruit in this, so if you are suffering from nutropenia, be cautious in choosing this recipe.