I really love the summer,
but as the days get longer with clear blue skies and long, hot, sticky nights,
the intense heat can sometimes be a little too much to bear. At times like
these we need to find some refreshing, delicious ways to us cool down and a
frozen ice cream is very tempting and often hits the point. The truth is
whether you’re 8 or 80, you’re always the perfect age to enjoy a lovely ice
lolly but if you take just a little time to make them yourselves at home, they
can also be a healthy, thirst-quenching snack.
There are endless
possibilities and you can pack them full of your favourite fruits, or make them
creamier with the addition of coconut milk or low fat yoghurt. If you’re
feeling a little bit devilish, why not pop some alcohol into them for an
adults-only treat at the end of a hot summer’s day?
Preparing these ice creams
is the easiest thing in the world and all you’ll need is some Popsicle moulds,
a few sticks, and a blender. You can be as creative as you want and try different
flavour combinations and you can also freeze savoury favourites such as
gazpacho! Try these three, simple
recipes at home and then experiment for yourselves and chill!
Orange, mango & cardamom popsicles dipped in white
chocolate
Prep time: 15 minutes, plus
freezing
Ingredients makes
10
Juice of 4 oranges
1tbsp icing sugar
1 ripe mango
4 cardamom pods
250g white chocolate
Bring the orange juice,
icing sugar and cardamom pods to the boil in a saucepan and reduce by half.
Pass through a sieve and leave to cool.
Peel the mango and remove
the flesh from the stone. Blend with the orange juice until smooth. Freeze in
Popsicle moulds. After one hour add the sticks and freeze until solid or
overnight.
Place the white chocolate
in a medium bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water; making sure the
bottom of the pan does not touch the water. Stir until the chocolate is melted
and smooth. Dip the end of each popsicle in the white chocolate. Transfer
immediately back to the freezer until ready to serve.
Cucumber, kiwi & lime with fresh mint
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus
freezing
Ingredients makes
8
1 cucumber, deseeded &
diced
Juice of 2 limes
3 kiwis, peeled & diced
6-8 mint leaves
250ml water
Place the cucumber, kiwis,
mint leaves, lime juice and water in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour
into sections of a lolly mould tray or into individual lolly moulds. Add the
sticks or lids and freeze overnight until firm. Run the moulds under hot water
to loosen the lollies, and then remove from the moulds. Serve immediately.
Strawberry, watermelon & basil popsicles
Prep time: 15 minutes, plus
freezing
Ingredients makes
12
250g fresh strawberries
1tbsp icing sugar
250g watermelon, peeled
& diced
Juice of 1 lime
4 fresh basil leaves
Place all the ingredients
in a blender and blend until smooth. Freeze in Popsicle moulds. After one hour
add the sticks and freeze until solid or overnight.
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