Easy Fruit Popsicles

Since we are waiting out the heat before we can lay down our sod, I thought I'd add a post about how we use our house now that it's done: making sweets and treats! (We also make healthful meals, but this is more fun).

Back in February, when we were busy shopping for all the things a new house needs, D found some popsicle molds and asked if we could get them. At the time, I thought it would make a fun summer project for us. Since he was diagnosed with his milk allergy, I'm grateful that we have the molds so we can make fun, safe frozen goodies for our good boy. 

Since we bought the molds--in February!--D has been asking me to make popsicles for him pretty much every week. In the last couple of weeks, he has asked several times a day! I needed time to find a recipe, and between company and fatigue, I didn't get a chance to do so until this morning. Now I feel bad, because I see how easy a fruit popsicle recipe can be. I improvised this one from one I found here.

Healthy Strawberry Popsicles

adapted from http://www.keeperofthehome.org

Ingredients:

• 2 cups strawberries, cleaned and cut into small pieces
• 1/3 cup vanilla coconut milk
• 1/4 cup honey (next time, I'll use an 1/8 cup)
• 1 T. chia seeds
• 1 T. ground flax seed
• 1 T. wheat germ

Instructions:

First, wash the strawberries. I use a homemade produce wash. I don't leave it on very long because the strawberries are temperamental. Then, rinse with water.

Next, remove the stems and cut strawberries into small pieces. Add them to the blender.

Add the 1/3 cup coconut milk.

Add the 1/4 cup honey.

Add 1 T. chia seeds.

Add 1 T. each of wheat germ and flax seed.

Enjoy the look of joy on your son's face.

Blend well until the strawberry chunks disappear.

Fill up your molds.

 I was able to fill all four small molds, and 1 large mold. Next time, I'll double the recipe. 

Five hours later, we took them out of the freezer and...

Our popsicle turned into a sorbet bowl. My mom suggested that I run the popsicle under warm water before trying to take the top off so that the stick stays intact. In the meantime, D was determined to still enjoy his popsicle.

 All done!

I figured the calorie found on these based on 5 servings per recipe, which comes out to 144 calories each. If you did all smaller pops, you'd be 120 each for 6. If you did 4 pops, you'd have 180 calories each. The large popsicle molds hold just over 1/2 cup. The smaller molds hold about 1/3 cup.