Popsicles — juicy frozen fruits on a stick — a taste of summer

It’s a beautiful May morning with bright sunlight and a clear blue sky. Glancing out the glass patio door, I see the frangipani tree in full bloom in my little garden with the fragrant white flowers and glossy green leaves dancing to the rhythm of the balmy breeze. The house is quiet but for the sultry music playing in the background. I am sitting by the desk, fingertip to keyboard, in an attempt to script my wayward thoughts. Just so you know, this is one of those months when I don’t have enough energy to keep up with the pace of things. To begin with, I was feeling a bit blue on the occasion of my young brother’s anniversary (May 1 per Gregorian calendar), and then I was literally down with a bad case of virus. Now that I’ve almost recovered, it’s another matter -- I’m on the run every minute of the day! Wonder what I’m hinting at? Okay, you see, my brother is in town. I haven’t seen him in over three years -- with him living in the southern hemisphere, in Australia, and a distance of over 7400 miles separating us. All the more reason I’m relishing every moment of the reunion. Besides, with his arrival, I was instantly able to break free of the ho-hum days with great vigor. Now, I’m cooking a ton, spoiling the boys with new treats, and—photographing my way to happiness. Cooking, entertaining and clicking too. Of course.

I have far too many images, ready and waiting, and wonderful recipes--not yet drafted--that I’m eager to share with you. But, even before I snap out of my plans, I know it sounds way too ambitious. Because, between the cooking, chatting, entertaining and socializing, I end up with little or no time to write. And I can’t very well blog with just images and empty words, can I? So, that’s the set back. And I’m working on it.

With that transition, let me move on to the frozen treats. No, not ice-creams, but ice pops, or popsicles.

Summer is the time for flipflops, hammock on a beach, ice-cold drinks by the pool, and….golden afternoons enjoying juicy popsicles!

Everyone loves popsicles—the quintessence of summer.

Tasty. Juicy. Refreshing. Hydrating. And, incredibly cooling.

There’s no better way to beat the heat than suck on a homemade ice pop, enjoying many perky summer flavors with childish relish and perhaps a sense of silliness—if you know what I mean. Popsicles make me smile in reminiscence. It reminds me of being a kid; of truly happy times. The thrill of listening to the jiggling bells of the ice-cream seller pushing his cart down the street in front of my house, in India; the childish delight and sense of triumph on holding on to my own colorful pop; the gleam in the eyes while licking deliciously sweet juicy drips under the sweltering afternoon heat. Aha! Don’t you have similar memories?

Equipped with some craft sticks and fancy molds, these frozen treats are a breeze to make. A simple, fun way to forget the weather. You can experiment with flavors, colour and shapes all summer long. It’s amazing.

So, with the temperatures soaring, I’ve been on a major popsicle kick. With real fruits. Strawberry, mango, watermelon, and still more to go. I made them creamy, I made them zesty — YUM.

If you don’t have a ready-made popsicle mold, not to worry. Use paper cups, silicon cupcake molds, ice trays or even drinking glass to make your frozen treats. Wooden stirrers, cocktail sticks and plastic spoons would make great handles. Now, while mixing the ingredients for your pops, remember that frozen flavors will be muted, so don't hesitate to make it slightly sweeter and tarter than you normally prefer.

 

Watermelon Ice Pops

Ingredients

2 cups seedless watermelon chunks

5 tablespoon lime juice, or to taste

4 tablespoon sugar, or to taste

dash of salt

popsicle mould

Directions

Blend all the ingredients together until completely smooth. Taste and adjust flavors as needed. Strain through a sieve and pour into popsicle molds; insert handles. Freeze 5 hours or until set, preferably overnight.

To serve, run the molds quickly under warm water for 15 seconds and then gently twist the stick to release. Serve immediately. Remember the golden rule: lick, don't chew!

Strawberry Pops

Ingredients

1 cup strawberry, washed and hulled

sugar, to taste

2 teaspoon plain yogurt

silicon ice tray

Directions

Blend all the ingredients together until completely smooth and pour into the ice tray. Cover with foil and freeze 30 minutes or until almost firm, and then insert wooden sticks into center or corner of each pop, depending on the shape of the mold. This was a bit tricky with my heart shaped molds, but it was fun and the result was stylish. Return to freezer and freeze for additional 5 hours or until set, preferably overnight.

Remover from trays and enjoy them immediately before they are too melted!

Mango Popsicles

Ingredients

2 cup mango chunks, peeled and pitted

sugar, to taste

¼ cup vanilla yogurt

¼ cup water

silicon cupcake molds

Directions

Blend all the ingredients together until completely smooth. Taste and adjust flavors as needed. Strain through a sieve and pour into individual cupcake molds and cover with a foil. Freeze 30 minutes and then insert wooden sticks into center of each pop, over the foil, while still soft. Return to freezer and freeze for additional 5 hours or until set, preferably overnight.

For multilayer pops, pour one layer into the mould, freeze for an hour, and then pour the second layer. Return the molds to the freezer until set.

Remove from freezer, peel away foil and serve immediately, with or without molds. And oh, don’t forget the napkins!

These recipes are as versatile as the summer days are long. Chose any seasonal fruit in your kitchen, pimp it up with citrusy, creamy or herbal flavors, get the kids to help you layer contrasting colors, and have great fun discovering your new favorites. My elder boy loved the strawberry flavor and young one loved the mango popsicle. My favorite was the delightfully zesty watermelon pops. My hubby's too.

Alrighty, have some fast freezing fun with the family, keep smiling and stay cool!