Homemade Ice Pops

When I was a little girl, any time one of our neighbors or my godmother and her husband went to the country, they'd bring back all the fresh produce they could pack in their cars. Every conceivable fruit on the island of Puerto Rico made it to my lips in one form or another.

My grandmother made jams, candied the fruit, she juiced it. If she did not know of an alternative way to serve a fruit, she asked (that was her research), she kept recipes for later experimentation. Her goal was to have me get a healthy serving of fruit but also not to get bored with it.

Of all the things she did with fruit, my favorite was the “icies”. She'd take fruit pulp, usually processed in the blender, mixed with juice and milk or cream, and frozen in ice trays. Depending on the fruit's water content, the texture varied, but it was always delicious and a fun summer treat.

Of course, I grew up in Puerto Rico, so by “summer treat” I mean an every day treat.

She always wanted me to place each cube on a small plate, and use a spoon. At the very least she preferred that I use napkins. But I was a kid and the fun thing to do was eat it with my fingers, let the juices run down my hand, and lick it slowly after I devoured each cube.

That poor woman! She was horrified people would witness this savagery and think she did

not know how to properly raise children. At least that's what she'd say after she'd hit me upside the head and tell me to eat like a “civilized human being.”

Of course, she did not know about ice pop molds and their sexy wooden sticks—mostly because I doubt they were available anywhere near us. Today, ice pop molds can be bought at most supermarkets, drug stores, and online at a cost of $5-15. The molds are reusable.

(I understand the concept of broke and if you don't have it right now, small beverage cups work just as well. Cover with foil and freeze to a slushy consistency about 30 minutes before you insert sticks through the foil and into the pop.)

It is fairly easy to make your own, keeping the ingredients fresh and local – if that is your wish. Generally, you can pour the mixture into your mold and insert sticks. Most pops freeze in 4-6 hours, so you can make them overnight and have them ready for the next day. Run some hot water over molds to free up the goodies inside and enjoy!

Papaya Pops

Puree cups of papaya in food processor. Mix in ¾ cup water or seltzer for a tingly finish, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of honey, the juice of one lime, and ¼ teaspoon of salt.

Berry Yogurt Pops

Puree 2 cups of fresh or frozen mixed berries and sliced bananas, 2 cups of plain or vanilla yogurt, ¼ sugar (or substitute with honey).

Tropical Pops

Blend 1 cup of coconut water, 3 ripe bananas until it makes a milky mixture. Add sliced or diced mango, cherries, kiwis and a little honey to bind the sweetness (you can add a little lemon or orange juice).

Strawberry Pops

Blend until smooth 2 cups strawberries, ¼ cup apple juice, the juice of ½ a lemon, a pinch of salt, and 2 tablespoons of honey.

Strawberry Cream Pops

Blend until smooth 2 cups of cut up strawberries, ½ cup sour cream (or yogurt) 2-3 tablespoons of sugar (or honey), 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Virgin Colada Pops

Blend 1 can of coconut milk, ½ cup fresh chopped pineapple (or peaches), ¼ cup sugar, 1 cup pineapple juice, ½ teaspoon coconut extract.

You can make ice pops out of your favorite smoothies too. There are plenty of recipes online, but this will give you some idea of the basic ingredients you can use to get started. You can make adult pops with a dab of alcohol – just don't use a lot because most alcohol freezes at extreme temperatures and will affect the texture of your pops.

You know your tolerance for sweet and sour, and you'll have to adjust the “seasoning” to your taste buds. In lieu of water, you can use tea for slightly different flavorings. You can add espresso to half and half, and sweetened cocoa for a more robust (and caffeinated) treat. 

Have fun! Stay cool. Enjoy "summer" any time you wish, because it is as much a calendar thing as it is a state of mind.