Popsicles!

http://www.flickr.com/, photo by Growing a Green Family

Here in middle Tennessee, we've broken heat records recently. It's just plain hot, and we're looking for ways to cool down. Our family loves frozen popsicle treats in the summer, and making our own is just so easy and low cost, there's no excuse not to!

Okay, so throwing a package of Fla Vor Ice popsicles into your cart, and then into the freezer, is a little easier, but you're basically giving your kids watered down high fructose corn syrup with harmful dyes. Of course, an occasional pop isn't the end of the world, but if my kids are going to eat popsicles every day, I want to give them something different.

Even the popsicle options that claim to be "all natural" or "flavored with all fruit" are not always 100% frozen fruit. Read the ingredients! I've been disappointed to discover exactly what is in these supposedly healthy treats. Most of them are still loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and/or harmful artificial sweeteners. Not to mention, they're expensive!

You don't really need a lot of complicated ingredients to make popsicles, but you will need some sort of mold. If you have popsicle molds, preferably non-toxic, that would be great, but you can also use ice cube trays or tiny little cups (like Dixie cup size). If you want to get creative, go to Amazon and check out popsicle molds. They even have silicone molds so you can make your own Go-gurt or Fla Vor Ice shaped popsicles. Here are some of the ones they offer:



Silicone popsicle molds



If you decide to use ice cube trays or small cups, cover the filled cups with aluminum foil, then stick a wooden popsicle stick through the foil and into the cup before placing into the freezer. This will keep the sticks upright as they freeze.

So, here are some ideas for making your own popsicles. You're bound to find something that suits your taste!

Applesauce: Pour applesauce into molds and freeze. That's it! You could add some cinnamon or other flavoring if that's what your family prefers.

Juice: Pour some of your favorite fruit juice into molds and freeze. My kids have really been enjoying apple juice pops this summer.

Yogurt: Mix some plain, preferably whole milk yogurt (we buy Stoneyfield's plain whole milk yogurt in the big tub) with berry sauce (add enough berry sauce to suit your taste), then pour into molds and freeze.

Watermelon: blend 4 and 1/2 cups of fresh watermelon with 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup orange juice, and 1 Tbsp. honey. Pour into molds and freeze.

Fruit: Puree your favorite fruit or fruit combination, pour into molds and freeze. If you prefer, you can also add some plain yogurt, and/or a little honey.

From Natural Health Magazine:

Raspberry Yogurt Pops: blend 1 and 1/2 cups raspberries, 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tsp. almond extract, and 2 Tbsp. honey. Pour into molds and freeze.

Fudge Pops: blend 1 cup coconut milk, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 banana, 3 tbsp. pure maple syrup, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Pour into molds and freeze.