Making your own popsicles, and some family fun too!

It is summer, and the kids are out of school.  Maybe they are clamoring for something to do.  Maybe they are clamoring for a popsicle.  Maybe they are doing both.  Why not take care of both issues with one activity.  Gather your kids and make popsicles with them.  To help you out, here are some recipes for you to choose from:

-- These links are for single recipe pages. 

This one uses fresh fruit and yogurt, and is written by a facebook friend of mine.  I highly recommend this one. 

http://www.examiner.com/family-holidays-in-buffalo/all-natural-frozen-fruit-bars

This one is a good sounding one too that uses sugar, water, and juice. 

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/make_your_own_juice_popsicles/

This one is an orange-banana smoothie pop recipe.

http://www.countryliving.com/recipefinder/orange-banana-smoothie-pops-recipe

Here is a strawberry popsicle recipe that uses fresh strawberries and milk.

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/frugalfoodsrecipes/r/Strawberry_Pops.htm

And  here is one that uses jello in it.

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/frugalfoodsrecipes/r/Jello_Popsicles.htm

This is a sugar-free popsicle recipe that uses sugar-free jello and kool-aid.

http://dessert.food.com/recipe/sugar-free-popsicles-166109

Here is another sugar-free popsicle recipe that uses sugar-free jello and crystal light in it. 

http://www.food.com/recipe/sugar-free-calorie-free-popsicles-175966

-- The following are all links to pages that have several recipe links for you to choose from:

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/897/

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,homemade_popsicles,FF.html

http://tipnut.com/homemade-popsicles/

http://www.countryliving.com/cooking/recipes/popsicle-recipes-0709

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/desserts/tp/Popsicle_Recipes.htm

-- This one gives you some popsicle making tips as well as recipes:

http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/50-amazing-homemade-popsicle-recipes-ideas/

So now you need to pick out the recipe that suits you.  Then gather your ingredients.  Involve the kids in every step of the process.  Let them help you pick out the recipe, and help with gathering the ingredients.  If you have to go shopping for something, let them help with that too.  When you get in the store, perhaps assign one to carry the list and another to help search out the ingredients. 

So what do you freeze them in?  You can buy reusable plastic popsicle molds.  Or you can simply use an ice cube tray.  Put your popsicle mix in the tray, cover it with foil, and poke popsicle sticks thru the foil in the center of each ice cube compartment.  I have read that you can also use dixie cups as popsicle molds too.  As I write this, I am sitting here thinking that you could also use disposable plastic drinking cups for popsicle molds.  As with the ice cube trays, you would cover them in foil and poke the sticks thru.  If you have trouble getting the popsicles out of the mold, with plastic containers, you can simply run the end of it under a little warm water at the faucet.  That should do the trick.

So go forth and make some popsicles to keep yourself cool with this summer.  And you can also turn it into a great activity to do with your kids (or grandkids) too.  And think of how much more fun it will be for them to eat something that they helped make.

Happy cooking and delightful eating!

See you on my facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/rcandfood

:))

-- jd --