Monday, June 10, 2013

Popsicles - Recipe(s)

One of the best investments I have made for the summer is to pay $2 for a Popsicle tray to make frozen goodies at home.  The cool thing is that you can make them as healthy as possible.  Another added bonus to making popsicles at home is the money you save! 

Now this idea is not mind blowing or anything, but just in case you maybe have not thought of it, I am going to share what I have been doing.  I have been using smoothie recipes to make my popsicles.  I love creamy popsicles rather than icy, so what better concoction to freeze than a smoothie?  They are creamy, fruity, yummy... yeah... the perfect popsicle. 

Here are just a couple of recipes that I have used so far to great results.

Pineapple Banana
1 frozen banana (sliced into thick chunks for easier blending)
1/8 frozen pineapple
3/4 cup almond milk
2 tbsp agave nectar

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender.  It gets pretty thick so you will have to stir. Fills 7 of my popsicle reservoirs.  Freeze for at least 4 hours.

Chocolate Peanut Butter
2 frozen bananas
2 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp all natural peanut butter
3 tbsp agave nectar
1 1/2 cup almond milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
(you could try this same recipe with plain greek yogurt instead of almond milk, to make it more the consistency of a fudgesicle)

Blend all ingredients together in a blender.  Fills 8 of my popsicle reservoirs.  Freeze at least 4 hours.

... Seriously, though, any smoothie recipe should make a yummy popsicle treat.  I am going to try some yogurt based popsicles soon.  Be creative, have fun, and have some good-for-you treats this summer!
Hope you all are enjoying your summer holiday, even though it's technically still spring.