Foodie Friday: Beat the heat with homemade fruit pops!

Keeping cool in the summer heat

Much of Northern BC has been enjoying some beautiful weather these past few weeks. I have been loving relaxing in the sun, reading a book or listening to music.

I recently attended the Edge of the World Music Festival on Haida Gwaii. It was a beautiful hot and sunny day with not a cloud in sight; a perfect day to lay out a blanket and chill out while listening to some great music.

I was overjoyed by the nice weather, but I quickly realized I would not be able to enjoy the music without something to keep me cool. Ice pops to the rescue!

When I was a kid, I remember my mom making homemade ice pops in plastic molds. At the festival, I was delighted to find someone selling homemade ice pops like the ones my mom used to make. It was just what I needed.

Since then, I purchased my own ice pop molds and have started experimenting with different flavours. One of my favourites so far is this recipe for watermelon mint popsicles. They taste delicious and fresh and are a smart alternative to many store-bought ice pops that are high in sugar. A quick scan online shows that many popular ice pop brands have two to four teaspoons of added sugar per serving!

Watermelon Mint Popsicles

Recipe adapted from Zoku.

Don't have molds? Ice cube trays and cut pieces of firm straws can do the trick!

Ingredients:

• 12 oz (about 3½ cups) seeded, cubed fresh watermelon
• ¼ cup cold water
• 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 6-8 mint leaves
• Sweetener of choice (optional - if your watermelon is sweet, you won't need to add sweetener. If you want a sweeter base, simply add a little sweetener to taste.)

Instructions:

1. Make the watermelon base: In a blender, combine all ingredients and puree until smooth.
2. Assemble popsicles: Insert sticks and pour the watermelon base until almost full. Let freeze completely, then remove the pops and enjoy.

If you enjoy these, start experimenting with different fruit combinations or try using various types of milk as the liquid base. One of my favourite flavour combinations is coconut milk and pineapple. What combinations will you try?