Finally! Finally I’m taking a few moments to post on my blog, which I just realized has lost it’s free template graphics I installed years ago. Goodbye cute scroll-y flowers in the left side bar. Hello, “Sorry. This person moved or deleted this image.” Didn’t that Photobucket member realize that her free blog template design offered many years ago would become my forever blog design??? Gonna have to finally do a makeover around here, I guess! Finally {tomorrow, maybe?} I hope to post again about all that’s been going on around here from mother’s day half-marathons, to trips to the Cooperstown, NY, to mission trips to the Dominican Republic, and more.
And FINALLY it has hit 90 degrees in these parts. We’ve had a couple of spurts of 70-80 degree sunny days, but for the most part it’s been clouds, and grey skies, and rain, and thunderstorms, and that was only after what seemed like THE longest winter on the books. Tomorrow is June for goodness’ sake. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the length of winter and the brevity of the sunshine and heat around here, but we’re trying to enjoy it to the fullest while it lasts, and popsicles are a necessary component of the complete summer experience, of course. Everyone knows that.
Exactly one week ago today, I was sitting in the bleachers under a blanket, wearing a thermal fleece jacket, gloves, and a scarf while still shivering through one of Kory’s last baseball games of the season. 40 degrees and whipping winds blew the thought of popsicles into the seeming distant future, but today we’re making and enjoying them in 94 degree heat. It’s wonderful. Now, if only I could get in an inner tube and float down the Guadelupe or Frio river… ☺
I’ve already posted a few “pop” recipes, but these are new. They both use coconut milk, and don’t require much extra sweetener due to the bananas. They are super-healthy, fresh-fruity and delicious. Here are the recipes inspired by a couple of different smoothies I came across in a Whole Living magazine.
Strawberry Coconut Popsicles
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1 banana
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup water
dash of stevia or 1 Tbsp honey to sweeten
Blend all ingredients in food processor or blender. Pour into molds and freeze. Remove from molds, wrap in wax paper, and store in large Ziploc bags in freezer.
Creamy Mango Popsicles
4 cups fresh or frozen mango
1 cup coconut milk
1 banana
1/2 cup orange juice
dash of stevia or 1 Tbsp honey to sweeten
Follow same blending/freezing/storing directions as above
Hope you are finally able to enjoy some summer fun this weekend wherever you are. I’m headed out to my picnic table to soak in the sunshine and finally make up for my vitamin D deficiency!
Can't wait to try these popsicle recipes here in the land of eternal summer. We have a mango tree in our yard, which should be ready to be picked in few weeks! Ironically, as you have 90 degrees there, we are only in the 70's here with monsoon rains. So sorry about the blog template…I'm sure you'll come up with something cute though!
We will try these as our summer days are arriving. Love, K&J
Wow ~ a mango tree in your yard! How fun! Looks like you've ended school as did we officially today ~ feels so good! Hope you enjoy your summer!
And you, too, K & J! Heading your way in a week for some classical education training and for Kory's Baylor orientation!