Blueberry Pops

Summer is here and so are the sugary treats. Personally, I was tired of reading labels on sorbet, Italian ice, and other seemingly harmless treats for kids only to find that the amount of sugar or sugar substitute and dyes (red 40,etc.) in them are incredible. High fructose corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors, and others round out the list of controversial ingredients.


Why not make your own? It's not hard and it doesn't take any time to make them. You can add your own berries, substitute honey or agave for the sugar, and add yogurt and 100% juice (freshly squeezed even) to bump up the nutritional value of these cool summer treats.


To make these tasty cool pops:

Ingredients:


1 1/2 cup blueberries (or whatever berry you prefer)
1 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice (fresh squeeze perhaps or other juice of choice that complements the berries)
3 Tbsp Honey or Agave (can use sugar if you want)
1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt (soy, rice, etc if dairy is a problem)
Popsicle molds (can use dixie cups and Popsicle sticks or ice cube trays)


Preparations:

In a medium saucepan, simmer 1 1/2 cups of fresh blueberries, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 3 tablespoons of honey for 10 minutes.
Let the mixture cool for 20 minutes, then blend in a food processor or with an immersion blender until smooth (I even used a blender).
Stir in 1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt.
Pour the mixture in to Popsicle molds and freeze.
Makes approx. 8 (3 oz) pops.

Buon Appetito!

Fun Fact:

Popsicle - The History of the Popsicle By Mary Bellis

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In 1905, the Popsicle was invented by an eleven-year-old Frank Epperson. Frank Epperson was only 11 years old when he invented the originally named Epsicle. He had left his fruit flavored soda outside on the porch with a stir stick in it. The drink froze to the stick and tasted good. It took 18 more years in 1923 for Epperson to apply for a patent for a "frozen ice on a stick" called the Epsicle ice pop, which his children re-named the Popsicle.
In 1925, Frank Epperson sold his famous Popsicle to the Joe Lowe Company of New York. Good Humor now owns the rights to the Popsicle.

• Twin Popsicles (two popsicles sticks together) were invented during the Great Depression.
• Popsicle sticks were first made from Birch wood.