Mixed Fruit Popsicles

There is only one word to describe the weather in Mobile lately....H - O - T !!!!! I thought Memorial Day weekend was hot with the temperatures reaching 97 degrees but today things only got hotter...we hit 100 degrees...that's right 100! Don't believe me, I have proof on my iphone from about 4:30ish this afternoon! It looks like summer is here to stay!

So to keep cool on those blistering hot days I have created some homemade fruit popsicles! Making popsicles is super easy, only requires a few ingredients, and they are delicious and healthy! Let's just say these are going to be a staple in my freezer for the next few months! If you are looking for that perfect sweet to take to a summer picnic, birthday party or family reunion a homemade fruit pop is the way to go...they are no fuss, can be made days in advance, and don't require any baking just a large bowl and a spoon to mix with!

To make homemade popsicles you only need 3 things:
-3 oz Dixie paper cups
-wooden popsicle sticks
-fruit/juice combination of your choicce

One of my all time favorite frozen treats is frozen lemonade so I knew for sure lemons were going to be an ingredient in my pops. I decided to pair lemons with some pureed strawberries to create a Strawberry Lemon popsicle! At first glance you think you are just going to be tasting strawberries but one lick on this pink pop and the tang of the lemon hits your tongue, yum the ultimate summer flavor!

After talking to my mom and telling her my plan to make homemade popsicles to take to our friends Memorial Day party she told me how her mom (my grandmother) used to make popsicles all the time using bananas, pineapple and orange juice. Since I happened to have all 3 of those fruits on hand I figured I would go ahead and make a second pop flavor, Banana Pineapple Orange. I really enjoyed these flavors and the texture of the crushed fruit reminded me of eating a frozen fruit bar you would normally find at the grocery store!

Both flavors were delicious and very refreshing, but I think my favorite was the Strawberry Lemon. I just love the tartness from a lemon!

Strawberry Lemon Popsicles (makes 18)

-2 cups water
-1 cup sugar
-4 cups strawberries, sliced then pureed
-4 lemons, juiced
-18 Dixie paper cups (3 oz)
-18 popsicle sticks

• Mix water and sugar in small pan on the stove over medium heat stirring until sugar is dissolved to create a simple syrup. Place syrup in refrigerator to cool.
• Slice strawberries and place 4 cups of berries into food processor to puree.
• Mix the simple syrup, strawberry puree and the juice from 4 lemons into a bowl and stir until combined.
• Place paper cups onto a baking sheet so easy to transport pops to the freezer.
  
• Pour fruit mixture into paper cups, filling about 3/4 full.
  
• Place a popsicle stick in the center of each cup and place pops into the freezer.
• Chill for 4 hours.
• Gently peel away paper cup from popsicle and enjoy!
  

Banana Pineapple Orange Popsicles (makes 18)

-2 bananas, mashed
-1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple in juice
-2 cups orange juice
-18 Dixie paper cups (3 oz)
-18 popsicle sticks

• In a large bowl mash bananas. Add can of crushed pineapple and orange juice and stir until combined.
  
• Place paper cups onto a baking sheet so easy to transport pops to the freezer.
  
• Pour fruit mixture into paper cups, filling about 3/4 full.
  
• Place a popsicle stick in the center of each cup and place pops into the freezer.
• Chill for 4 hours.
• Gently peel away paper cup from popsicle and enjoy!

*Note: If your sticks do not stand straight up in the fruit mixture, allow the mixture to chill for about 20-30 minutes and then reposition the sticks. I noticed that if some of the pops do not have as many fruit chunks in them the sticks tended to lean slightly.

The possibilities are endless with these fruit pops, just pick your favorite fruits and juices and start combining flavors! I'd love to hear what flavor pops you would make! I'm envisioning something with blueberries and raspberries next!

Stay cool this summer!