Shave Us From The Heat!

Still hot?
Still sweltering and summery?
Are you looking for something sweet to eat, to save you from the heat?
We may have what you are looking for... this is a raspador de hielo... an ice shaver! This clever tool rasps the ice, shaving away cool, fluffy layers of ice that collect in the handle.

With some downward force you push it forward across a block of ice... repeat, repeat, repeat, then peek inside and voila! Hielo. Fluffy, light snowy ice. Perfect for something sweet. What would you serve over it?

How about limes with mint? Almost, a mojito... which would be refreshing, too!

Tiny Key limes, not much juice in this little wonder, but good flavor. Since we have artificial dye allergies and aversions, we've learned to make our own syrups. We've made strawberry syrup, raspberry syrup, mixed berry, lemon, and lemon with mint and chile! The lemon-mint-chile recipe is still the all time favorite, of all ages!

Years ago the children gave me this marvelous juicer. I was touched by their gesture more than the gizmo, but they actually made a great choice. It does quick work, effectively.

Maybe the best part about our Krups juicer, it never fails to attract helpers!

All those limes made a cup of juice, which we added to a cup of water, along with a cup of sugar, then a bit more... maybe two cups of sugar? Long, slow, low heating on the stove top will cook off more and more of the water so that you can achieve the consistency and flavor you like best. We added spearmint leaves after we turned off the heat.

The next part is the hardest part... wait for it to cool down. So, obviously, the ice shaving part should come after your syrup is made, cooled, and bottled. We use any tall bottle and add a pour spout. The syrup lasts a long time in our refrigerator. Another treat... add a shot of syrup to bubbly water, for a homemade soda.

Got ice?
Max is our resident ice shaving expert. I was trying to lend my wisdom, suggesting the blade needed adjusting, discussing the surface temperature... I should have saved my breath. He had it all under control.

Ah... I should have one more picture, happy faces enjoying their shave ice treat, but my hands weren't free, because, well you know, I needed to make sure the almost mojito lime-mint raspados were coming out okay!

Some day we may find oil in the narrow strip at the bottom of our yard, or Spielberg will cast our goats in an epic movie, asking us to sign the rich and famous contract... when something like this happens, I would love to send a raspador to all! In the meantime, I have one extra, handy-dandy, ice shaving tool, and I would love to share it with a Chickenblog reader. A modest give-away, I know... please leave a comment, share your favorite cool-down treat, and we will throw your name in the fez for our Raspador Give-away!