Thursday, August 6, 2009

Make Your Own Popsicles And Save Money

By Dania Petrevski

It's summertime! Time for playing outdoors, time for enjoying the sun and definitely time for icy cold treats. But have you seen the price of popsicles lately? And let's not even get into the ingredients. Nothing but sugar, water, coloring and a drop or two of some artificial flavoring. Yet they cost dollars per pack. Save yourself a few dollars and, while you're at it, serve your kids a frozen treat that's refreshing and good for them, too.

Ingredients For Making Your Own Popsicles

Serve your kids a delicious treat that you make yourself from ingredients you probably already have on hand. Fruit juices are an excellent choice to start with. Combining juices with whole fruits that you've crushed in your blender will add even more nutritional impact. Don't have any juice in the fridge? Try using yogurt as your base for a creamy, smooth treat. Combine any yogurt and some whole fruit in your blender, then pour into molds and freeze. It's that easy!

Using Bottled Fruit Juice To Make Ice Pops

If you have fruit juice in your refrigerator then you have the makings for a cheap, tasty freezer treat! It's best to simmer the juice in a saucepan on your stove, first, to reduce it by about half. This will help it freeze to a firmer consistency. After simmer, stir in 1 tablespoon of corn syrup. Allow to cool slightly then pour into molds and freeze.

Frozen Juice Concentrates Make Excellent Popsicles

This is a great way to make popsicles. Sometimes you can get really super deals on frozen juice concentrates! Mix according to the directions on the juice can, only adding half the water so your popsicles will freeze well. Stir in about cup of corn syrup to help stabilize it and then just pour into molds and freeze.

Lemonade Popsicles - So Refreshing!

What is more refreshing than lemonade on a hot, summer day? Lemonade Popsicles! Heat 1 Cup of water and to 1 cup of sugar until the sugar dissolves. Stir in 1 tablespoon of corn syrup, simmer for a couple of minutes, remove from heat and allow to cool. Stir in 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice (2-4 lemons), pour into molds and freeze for about 4 hours. Recipe can be multiplied for more popsicles.

Strawberry Creamsicles

With just a few ingredients, you can have a tasty Strawberry Creamsicle! These pops are also a great healthy snack for yourself or the kids. Combine " Cup Strawberries, " Cup Vanilla Yogurt, 1 Cup Orange Juice and " Tablespoon of sugar in your blender until smooth. Then just pour into molds and freeze for approximately 4 hours. Voila! Strawberry Creamsicles!

Creamy Fruit Popsicles

Kids love fruit and you love to have them eat it. So, why not mix it up in a popsicle? Mash one banana and one 10 ounce package of frozen, sliced strawberries with juice with a fork. Stir in one 8 ounce can of crushed pineapple with syrup and Cup milk. Got a few extra maraschino cherries lying around? Toss those in too! Pour into ice pop molds and freeze.

Kid Faves - Apples and Grape Juice!

This is an easy recipe and a great way to serve your kids a healthy snack. And what kid doesn't like applesauce and grape juice?! Just mix one cup of frozen grape juice concentrate with 3 cups of applesauce. Pour the mixture into molds and freeze. Note: different types of applesauce freeze differently. You may have to simmer the applesauce for a few minutes to reduce some of the liquid out of it.

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