Summer is here and when snack time rolls around, the kids want something cool and refreshing.  This blog is all ABOUT cool and refreshing!  You’ll find a lot of fun Ice Cream and Toy ideas here to keep your kids cool and happy for the summer.

And let’s not forget about popsicles!  Everybody loves popsicles!  But have you seen the price of popsicles and other frozen treats lately?  And if I’m not mistaken, those itty-bitty icy cold treats are a lot smaller than they were when I was a kid!

Reading the list of ingredients on those store bought ice pops is scary, too.  Sugar, Corn Syrup, Glucose…oh, and MORE sugar!  And the universal ingredient – ARTIFICIAL FLAVORING.  These pops are really nothing but sugar and water with a few drops of some alien juice.

In the interest of providing healthier, tasty, icy cold treats for kids around the world, I did a little digging on the net and found a few recipes that will also help you save some money.   The recipe titles are linked to the sites where I found them if you’d like to follow them for more information.

To help reduce the cost even more, check out these reusable ice pop molds.  Your kids are going to love these delicious, healthy treats and they’ll want you to make them all year long.  After awhile, the cost of all those little paper cups and popsicle sticks will start to add up.   And you’ll be helping to save the environment, too!

Strawberry Popsicles

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole strawberries (topped)
  • 1 cup milk
  • Sugar to taste

Preparation

1. Place all of the ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.

2. Taste, and add sugar as needed.

3. Pour into ice pop molds and freeze.

Yield: 6-8 popsicles.

Watermelon Popsicles

Ingredients

  • Watermelon

Preparation

1. Slice and seed a watermelon (or a portion of a watermelon). Small chunks work best.

2. Then, puree the pieces in a blender.

3. Fill a ice pop mold with the resulting puree, and freeze.

Pudding Pops

Ingredients

  • Chocolate Pudding

Preparation

Fill ice pop mold with chocolate pudding and freeze.

Applesauce Popsicles

Ingredients

  • Applesauce
  • Water – as needed

Preparation

Simply pour applesauce into ice pop molds and freeze.  Some brands of applesauce may be thicker than others.  Add a bit of water to help them freeze better.

Jello Popsicles

Ingredients

  • 3 oz. box of Jello
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 tbsp. sugar

Preparation

1. Bring one cup of water to a boil.

2. Add in the gelatin mix, and stir until all of the sugar has dissolved.

3. Stir in one cup of cool water.

4. Pour the finished mixture into ice pop molds (paper cups work too) and freeze.

Yield: 4-6 popsicles (depending on size)

Variation: To increase the nutritional value, add in bits of chopped fruit.

Lowfat Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles

Ingredients

  • 1 pint fresh blueberries, washed and picked over
  • 1 cup nonfat milk
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt

Preparation

Place blueberries, milk and sugar in a blender, and blend until smooth. Add yogurt and blend briefly. Pour into ice pop molds.  Freeze for 5-6 hours.

Rocky Road Popsicles

Ingredients

  • 1 package of chocolate pudding
  • 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 1/3 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

Preparation

Make pudding according to directions on package.  Add marshmallows and nuts.  Mix well and pour into ice pop molds.  Freeze.

Strawberry Orange Popsicles

Ingredients

  • 1 quart orange juice
  • 2 cups strawberries – fresh or frozen
  • 3 tablespoons sugar – optional
  • 1 cup vanilla yogurt

Preparation

Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.  Pour into ice pop molds and freeze.

Caramel Apple Popsicles

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups applesauce
  • 1/3 caramel ice cream topping

Preparation

Stir together applesauce and caramel topping.  Pour into ice pop molds and freeze.

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