Prescription: Popsicles

Our son had surgery last week to remove an extra tooth growing in his upper gum.  If it hadn’t been causing trouble with its neighbors, I might have suggested we leave it in there just in case.  Isaiah might fall in that 30% of children that knock out, fracture or otherwise injure their hard-working chompers.  Always nice to have a spare, right?

Anyway, after the procedure, the surgeon sent him home with a prescription for a pain killer and lots of popsicles.  Fortunately, I was well prepared because our family consumes ice pops like a Ford Excursion guzzles petrol.  <That’s for you, Anthony>  And although, these frozen treats are great on a hot day, the store-bought kind consist mostly of sugar, food dyes and scary ingredients I don’t know how to pronounce.  Granted…I’m talking about the store-bought kind in my price range.

So we started making our own, and found out that if you have a blender, they’re really fun to make and eat.  You can freeze the pops in special molds, small plastic cups and sticks, or even ice cube trays and toothpicks.  Here are some of our favorite experiments…

“You Can’t Eat Strawberries Without Bananas”

(must say with a Swedish accent)

• 3 cups chopped strawberries
• 3 bananas
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or raw agave nectar (to taste)

Blend strawberries and bananas together until smooth.  Add lemon juice and honey and blend for a few more seconds.  Pour into pop molds.

 

Peaches N’ Cream

• 3 cups chopped, peeled peaches
• 1 cup vanilla soy milk

Blend ingredients until smooth and pour into pop molds.

 

Chocolate Banana

• 3 bananas
• 2 cups dark chocolate almond milk

Blend ingredients until smooth and pour into pop molds.

 

Mango Mint

• 2 very ripe mangos chopped (or squished)
• 4 chopped, peeled peaches or nectarines (use that disappointing fruit you bought on sale at the grocery store)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves

Blend ingredients until smooth and pour into pop molds.

 

Summertime

• 2 cups chopped strawberries
• juice of 2-3 limes
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup ice

Blend ingredients until smooth and pour into pop molds.

This last recipe is our family’s favorite and is based on Anni Daulter’s “Pure Sunshine” recipe in her book, Ice Pop Joy.  I just like the lime juice better than the lemon she suggests.  Anni has lots of other great popsicle recipes.  I highly recommend, “Happiness”, “Heavenly”, and “Blackberry Swirl”.  Oh, and “Peanut Butter & Chocolate Classic” and….