Summer Chillers

Tasty granitas, tangy shrubs, fun floats and fancy ice cubes that look as good as they taste. Cheers!

- CHRISTINE ALBANO

RED, WHITE AND BLUE GRANITAS  G M V H
Active 30 min. 
Total 30 min. plus freezing

1. Make coconut granita: In small saucepan on medium, heat coconut milk, sugar and 1/4 cup water, whisking, just until sugar dissolves. Transfer to 9- by 5-in. metal loaf pan.

2. Rinse out saucepan and make blue lime granita: Heat lime juice, sugar and 1 cup water on medium, whisking, just until sugar dissolves. Stir in lime zest and food coloring. Transfer to second 9- by 5-in. metal loaf pan.

3. Make watermelon granita: In food processor, puree watermelon until smooth. Add sugar and 1/4 cup water; pulse until sugar is dissolved. Strain liquid through fine-mesh strainer into third 9- by 5-in. metal loaf pan.

4. Freeze granita mixtures until solid, at least 7 hr., up to 3 days. When ready to serve, let granitas sit 10 min. at room temp; then, using separate fork for each color, scrape surface of granitas to create large flakes.

5. Layer evenly into chilled tall glasses, starting with blue lime granita followed by coconut, then watermelon (scant 1/2 cup per flavor; you will have some coconut and watermelon granita left over). Refreeze loaf pans if mixture melts. Serve right away.

SERVES 6