My New Summer Addiction - Popsicles

I woke up this morning determined to make popsicles. I dreamed of popsicles all night. Adult popsicles with boozey layers and exotic fruits. Yummy kid friendly popsicles using my new favourite PC Greek Yogurt and fruits. Maybe even trying some spicy popsicles at some point. It probably helped that we spent yesterday lolling about in the third ring of hell here in Toronto and I could barely stomach anything heartier than a chunk of watermelon all day.




I don't want you to think I don't own popsicle molds, because I do. I have fancy pants popsicle molds that I paid far too much money for but I don't like them. I find the rocket shape hard to eat and they don't sit really well in their stand so they sometimes tip over in the freezer before they are set. I thought "hey, I will just walk on over to Canadian Tire, the Canadian everything store, and grab some regular mo
lds" and guess what?
THEY DON'T EVEN STOCK THEM ANYMORE
No, problem, I will just walk a bit farther and grab some at Zellar's, the other Canadian everything store that is soon to be replaced by Target, the American everything store.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EITHER
What the hell is going on over here? It's June, it's summer in the humidity capital of Canada and the two get anything stores don't carry popsicle molds anymore?

Thank god for Loblaws. I continued on my walk, fearful of the gathering dark clouds, praying that my PC homies wouldn't let me down. I stopped Darren, who happened to be the GM of the store and he found the very last box of them for me! Not only were they only $2 but they are perfect. Not too big, nice and smooth and an easy to eat shape. I asked Darren if they were getting more in and he said no but he would be happy to call around and find some more at another store and have them brought in for me, since I told him I would buy as many as I could carry and either he is the nicest man in the world or he thought I might be a crazy lady and thought it best to keep me happy. Either way, I had my perfect popsicle molds (and a bag full of Joe Fresh clothing but we don't need to talk about that right now) and I had just enough time to make it home before the rain hit.

Okay, frozen pop #1 of the season will be a simple layered affair. Watermelon/Yogurt with a layer of Orange/Buttermilk/Yogurt. I am only doing two layers because I don't want to waste my energy if the layers don't come out nicely or the flavours aren't as great as I think they will be together. If these turn out I will be pulling out all the stops in the coming months.

Watermelon Orange Striped Pops
makes 7 smallish pops (I used the PC molds)

Watermelon layer:
3/4 cup of seedless watermelon that is chopped into a small dice
1/3 cup greek yogurt
1 tbls honey

Puree the watermelon and strain the juice into a bowl using a fine mesh strainer. Mix the juice with the yogurt and honey and blend well.
Divide that mixture evenly among the popsicle molds and put in the freezer till this layer is set, about 45 minutes

Orange/Buttermilk layer
adapted from a recipe on  LA Times 

1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1.5 tbls honey

Mix all the ingredients in a blender (I use my handy dandy Bullet). After the watermelon layer has set, pour this layer into the molds, put the sticks in and put in the freezer to set fully, at least four hours to be safe.

Okay, I have been live blogging this one and while I was outside photographing the finished product, The Kid ran out and begged to taste one. He not only devoured that one but asked for a second which means we have a winning popsicle! His bff asked for one and I told him he had taste one first because I was positive he would hate it and didn't want to waste one. He hated it, which might seem like a weird thing to be happy about but this kid hates most of the things I cook so it's almost like a good omen when he hates something. Maybe, just for him, I will make a batch of ketchup popsicles.

100% Little Shack approved