Homemade Fruitsicles

                                                
                                                                         
These are really simple to make. Use whatever fresh fruit is in season. You can also mix fruits to make fruit combos such as Strawberry Kiwi, Raspberry Strawberry, or Peach Blueberry. The choice is yours. I really like plain Strawberry. Your kids will enjoy these!

Homemade Fruitsicles

1 envelope unsweetened gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup boiling water
1 cup pureed fresh fruit, your choice*
1 Tbls lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2/3 cup powdered sugar*

Sprinkle gelatin over cold water and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Add boiling water and stir till dissolved. Add remaining ingredients, adding extra sugar if fruit is too tart.
Divide mixture evenly among 8- 3 ounce paper cups (or divide among plastic popsicle molds).
When partly frozen insert pop stick or plastic spoon in center of each pop.
Freeze for at least 2 hours, longer if desired. Remove from freezer 5 minutes before serving, sooner if excessively hot outside. Peel off paper cup and serve. Makes 8 servings.

Tips:
*Puree' the fruit in a blender or food processor while waiting on gelatin to soften.
*You can omit the sugar if you do not want any added sugar, but the fruitsicles will be tart, or you
  can add honey, Rapadura, or Succanat instead of table sugar.
*You can find pop sticks at hobby stores.

Lemon Shake Up

This is all it takes. See the sugar in the glass?

Oh yeah, so good and refreshing!

It is so very hot right now in the midwest and across most of America, with highs in the 90's, and even 100's. Daughter, Heidi, lives in Kentucky, just along the Tennessee border near Ft. Campbell, and when I talked with her earlier, she said it is going to be 108F today! Too hot! Here in central Ohio it is going to be in mid 90's with a heat index of around 110F degrees. It is truly miserable.
Trying to stay cool also means staying hydrated. How can it be more fun to be hydrated than making a Lemon Shake Up like they make at the fair? Fair food is fun food, and when you can bring these tastes home and enjoy them all year long, it makes them even more fun.
Lemons are so good for you as they help to cleanse the kidneys. I know, I know, sugar is not so good for you, so if you want to change the dynamics of this traditional drink to make it more healthy, try adding honey, rapadura, or succanat instead of regular table sugar, though the taste will be a bit different, depending on the kind of sweetener you choose to use.
In the meantime, I am going to enjoy my Lemon Shake Up as I write out this recipe!

Lemon Shake Up

16 ounce tumbler (glass is what I use)
Plenty of ice, crushed is nice, if you have it
1/3 cup sugar*
1 lemon
Cold water*

Fill tumbler 2/3 with ice.
Add sugar.
Wash lemon well for pesticides and germs.
Roll lemon, cut in half, then ream juice from one half and place in tumbler.
Save other half for another time.
Drop squeezed lemon rind into glass.
Cover with water, top with a lid or another glass that fits inside tumbler, and shake till sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes.
Add a straw and drink!

Tips:
*You can use honey, Rapadura, or Succanat instead of regular table sugar.
*You can adjust the sweetness by adding to or from the sugar content for your own tastes.
*Use spring water instead of tap to have the best flavor.
*If you are like me, I like mine a bit stronger and sometimes use the entire lemon.