DIY Popsicles

There's something about popsicles and kids. Never the two shall part....

My brood can get into heedy arguments or throw the most outrageous tempertantrums but the minute I bring out popsicles, world peace has been restored!

One of the "Smart Mom" moves I learned early on, is to keep our freezer stocked with popsicles -- the homemade kind, of course. This small gesture, while seemingly time consuming, has a big return every way you splice it.

Why I Love Them

Economically, the price of mom-made popsicles versus buying them can't be beat.

I can choose the flavors my kids' love. Actually, popsicles are a great way to introduce kids to new tastes and flavors they may be averse to trying in a different setting.

Creating popsicles at home allows me to control what goes into them. You won't find food coloring, chemicals or high fructose corn syrup in the ones produced from my kitchen. Try finding a commercial popsicle like that at a price you can afford!

Popsicles are a wonderful make-ahead snack. When famished kids need food (like, yesterday), healthy popsicles have a magical way of ebbing the wave of hunger until the tide turns (aka - dinner is served).

Making popsicles is so simple, even little kids can be given the independence and creativity to make a batch for the family. (For the littlest ones, pre-pour the liquid into small- size pitchers so they can eaily transfer the juice into the molds.)

Don't have popsicle molds?

Fill ice cube trays with juice. When the "juice cubes" are half frozen, stick in tooth picks and return to the freezer until they are completely solid. You can also use this method utilizing dixie cups and popsicle sticks.

Taking Homemade Popsicles to a New Level

I love using Tovolo molds because they come in cool shapes (rockets!) and once they are frozen, they can be efficiently stored by removing the base and piling the popsicles on top of each other.

Tovolo also makes ring pop molds which take homemade popsicles to a whole new level, while still maintaning the integrity of do-it-yourself.

If you want to jazz up your unique creations so they are still in the running with ice treats that come in glitzy packaging from the store... consider layering flavors for a dazzling effect. Fill the mold with one flavor, freeze. Repeat a second and third time with clashing colors until the final layer is frozen.

While freezing apple or grape juice works in a pinch, you can also freeze yogurt, smoothies, or blended fruit drinks. Add fruit and liquid to a blender, let it whirl, and freeze.

It's also fun to add chopped fruit in a color that contrasts with the liquid. Think of freezeing lemonade with raspberries or orange juice with blueberries.

Warning: homemade popsicles elicit lots of hugs and kisses.