Summer Heat, Icy Treats!

These DIY delights will help you keep your cool

When the temperature hits an all time high, there's nothing better than an ice cold sweet treat to cool off. Before air conditioning, that was a sure fire way to get through the summer heat. Sure you can buy these goodies at the grocery store, but making them yourself without all the additives and preservatives makes them not only tasty, but better for you! You can even sneak in some fruit, yogurt or milk while you're at it.

When my brother and sister were young, we'd turn to these proven winners. It's easy to say these recipes have been around a long, long time. Others are more recent, from when my millennial daughter was growing up.

The only downside to making these goodies at home is, from a child's point of view, they never seem to freeze fast enough. As a child, I remember them taking FOREVER. So, with the summer months here, my advice? Better start right now! Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY YOGURT POPS

2 8-oz. cartons strawberry yogurt

10-oz. frozen strawberries, thawed

Freezer pop molds or 10 3-oz cold drink cups

10 wooden sticks

DIRECTIONS

In a bowl combine yogurt and strawberries, stir to blend. Divide the mixture among the freezer pop molds. Insert the sticks and freeze until firm. Or, fill the 3-oz cups 1/3 to 2/3 full. Place cups to freezer until partially frozen, about an hour. Insert sticks; freeze completely. To serve, remove the drink cups. Makes 10 pops. Note: Muffin tins are a great way to keep the cups upright in the freezer.

PINEAPPLE ORANGE POPS

8-oz carton plain yogurt

8-oz can crushed pineapple, undrained

6-oz can frozen orange concentrate, thawed

Freezer pop molds OR 8 3-oz cold drink cups

8 wooden sticks

DIRECTIONS

Place ingredients in blender container. Cover; blend until smooth. Divide the mixture among the freezer-pop molds. Insert the sticks and freeze until completely firm, or use the 3-oz drink cups. Fill each cup with 1/3 of the mixture. Place cups in freezer until partially frozen, about an hour. Insert sticks; freeze completely.

BANANA GRANOLA TREATS

3 bananas
6 wooden sticks
½ c. vanilla yogurt (or other favorite flavor)
1 c. granola, coarsely crushed

DIRECTIONS

Peel banana; cut each in half crosswise. Insert wooden stick into cut end of each banana half. Dip bananas in yogurt. Gently roll in granola mixture to coat. Place on wax paper lined pan; freeze until firm. Thaw slightly before serving.

FUDGESICLES

1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding
3 t. quick cocoa mix
½ t. vanilla extract
2-½ c. whole milk
2 T. corn syrup or agave syrup

DIRECTIONS

Beat the ingredients together until blended and the syrup is incorporated. Pour into freezer pop molds and freeze until solid. Or, pour into 3-oz cold drink cups and partially freeze. Insert wooden sticks and freeze until solid, probably overnight.

KOOL-AID POPSICLES

1 pkg. (3-oz) Jell-O
1 pkg. Kool-Aid, unsweetened
1 c. sugar
2 c. hot water
2 c. cold water
Freezer pop molds or 8-10 3-oz cold drink cups
8-10 wooden sticks

DIRECTIONS

Stir first three ingredients together and add hot water, then cold water. Pour into the freezer pop molds and freeze until solid. Or fill the cups 2/3 full and freeze until partially frozen. Insert wooden sticks and freeze until solid.