Root Beer Float Popsicles

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Yield:

10-2 1/2 ounce popsicles or 25 ounces of popsicle base

Root beer float popsicles allow enjoyment of the quintessential summer favorite in a new, fun form.

Ingredients

• 12-14 ounces Root Beer
• 1 1/4 cup Vanilla Bean ice cream, slightly softened

Instructions

1. Pour a small amount of the root beer into each popsicle mold (equivalent of aproximately 3/4 inch in the mold).
2. Evenly distribute the ice cream between the popsicle molds in spoonfuls.
3. Pour root beer into molds in small amounts allowing the foam to die back before pouring more to fill molds to the top.
4. Cover with lid of popsicle maker. Place an sheet of foil on top of the popsicle mold top and insert sticks (the foil keeps the sticks in place so they don't slip into the mold more than desired or float).
5. Freeze until fully frozen. To remove popsicles run molds until hot water for a few seconds and remove.

Source: http://boulderlocavore.com/

Tips and Tricks in Making Ice Pops

Homemade Popsicle is a great way to induce fruits into your children’s diet.  It comes with dozens of advantages such as nutritional content, natural flavors, and fresh ingredients.  Unlike popsicles bought in stores, making your own popsicles give you the chance to combine flavors that you like such as fruits, yogurt, and milk.  It can be a good bonding experience with your kids too, ask them of their flavors and let them make their own popsicles.  Aside from that, you are reducing eco-waste since Popsicle molds are reusable.

If you have trouble in making your homemade popsicles, you’ll need to learn about the tips and tricks on how to mold so that your popsicle won’t be like rock pops,  also proper mixing and the right combination of ingredients.  Check the tricks and tips below and get yourself started. 

1.     Use reusable Popsicle molds -   you can use paper Dixie cup, and other raw materials however these are not eco-friendly and it will take years for these to decompose. If you want to save mother earth you better use reusable instant popsicle makerr.   On the other side, reusable molds are a good investment since it is economical.   

1.     Choose fresh and organic ingredients- We all knew that homemade popsicles are good for kids since it has fewer sweeteners, no artificial colors, and harmful chemicals.    But let’s don’t forget that homemade popsicles are only healthy depending on how you make them. It is important that you pick nothing but the fresh and organic ingredients only.  Bear in mind, fresh and organic and rest assured that you are serving nutritious delights to your family. 

1.      The right amount of sweeteners – this probably the common issue newbies encountered when making popsicles.  Oftentimes, they think that it is easy as pouring orange juice into a Popsicle maker and freezing away.   Popsicle making comes with proper mixing of the right amount of ingredients.   Remember, that you are not freezing plain liquids; you have your children to impress so make sure it taste good. 

Be Artistic and Write your efforts – Boring Popsicles are well, boring!  It always pays to be creative when making ice pops.  You can do many things such as adding berries into the molds to make it look colorful.  You can also experiment on the flavors such as mixing apple with mango; you can use your aesthetic taste for optimal ice pop enjoyment at your house.  It is big encouragement to try odd flavors such spinach, carrots, and fruit juices in making layered popsicles. You can add granola, chopped nuts, fresh fruits, and grated coconut to add nutritional texture on 

Homemade Popsicle Recipes and Popsicle Molds

There are lots of advantages in making your own refreshing ice treats.   We have met people who didn't like commercial Popsicle because of the added sugar and dyes that's somehow unhealthy to your health.  Based on a substantial perspective, Popsicle is one the easiest desserts to make because of the ingredients that are usually found in your kitchen such as ripe fruits, sugar, and milk.   Aside from that it has ecological benefits since Popsicle molds are reusable.  Try these homemade Popsicle recipes below and share with us your stories.

Dark Chocolate Frozen Kiwi Pops

·          6 large kiwis, peeled using this awesome method, cut into 1/3"-1/2" thick rounds

·         1 cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips

·          1/4 cup coconut oil Popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks Slice the peeled kiwis into rounds with a lollipop stick in each one.

Ø   Place on a tray lined with wax paper or parchment.

Ø   Freeze for at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours.

Ø  In a glass bowl, melt the chocolate and the coconut oil over a pan of simmering water. You can also melt this in the microwave at no more than 50% power for 15-30 seconds at a time.

Ø  Dip each frozen kiwi into the melted chocolate. The chocolate will harden within a few moments of being dipped.

Ø   Eat immediately or re-freeze.

Strawberry Banana Pop

Ø  3 Medium bananas, peeled and cut into chunks

Ø  1 ½ cups medium strawberries

Ø  ¾ cup orange juice

For adults: Honey dew Mint Pops

Makes Twelve

·         6 cups honeydew melon, cut into 1 inch chunks

·         2tsp minced fresh mint

Pickle Pops

·         7 large pickles

·         1/4 cup of pickling juice (from pickle jar)

·         1/4 water

Ø  Juice the pickles with a juicer or blend them in the blender.

Ø   If you use the blender you will have to strain the juice to remove seeds and pulp. Add the pickling juice and water to the juice from the actual pickles.

Ø   Fill Popsicle maker or Dixie cups with the juice. Freeze overnight

Disclaimer:

     Popsicles are easy to make (not to count the freezing time) it is a great  bonding activity especially if shared with your kids.   Aside from that, it can be educational activity since being artful is  a requirement. It is a form of constructive play where imagination is being used. And if your children will ask about Popsicle molds? here's something that you can share about Popsicle maker.  Popsicle maker or molds are commonly ice trays in cubes shape,  these now are available in different shapes and designs.  You can visit Amazon,com for a wide selection of Popsicle molds that you will surely like. 

How to Make Popsicles out of Fruit Juices

Summer is a perfect time for ice pops.  For someone who loves desserts, there can be no satisfying than getting ice treats ready on a hot day, obviously should have this on your fridge for easy walk in your kitchen.  So, get ready of your Popsicle molds and ingredients because we will be exploring a lot of choices in making your favorite ice pops. Ice pops are easy to create; they are simple as those other desserts we have known.  In Popsicle making, it is important that we have a recipe to beat.  

This is to guide as properly in a systematic process.   As for today, we will be making “juice popsicle” this idea comes from a babysitter who had poured juice in a Popsicle maker and eventually left it in the freezer.  To the sequencing of events, the “freezie-juice” became a favorite delight and obsession with children who were happy of its taste.  These coveted “juice popsicles” then scored high in approval in taste and got high sales when it was first introduced in the market.

I bet you are now interested on how these Ice pops are made.  So take some juice because what’s coming next below is the recipe.

1.         Pour a half cup of juice (any flavor) into a Popsicle maker.

2.         Put some sugar so that it won’t taste sour. Alternatively, you can use other fruit juice such as pineapple and orange. (depending on the flavor)

3.         Put a Popsicle stick into the Popsicle molds. You can also cover the cup with a plastic wrap through the Popsicle stick.

4.         Place it in the freezer for 4 – 6 hours until it turns into ice or solid.

Tips:

•          If you want your Popsicle to be more personalized in shape and size you can look for molds for specific purposes. 

•          For you to save time, it is better to make Popsicle in large numbers.  Making popsicles in minimum numbers can be a waste of ingredients and electricity.

•          Popsicles are tasty treats that you can enjoy any time of the day.  This can be a perfect treat or dessert or snack.

Four Ways to Safe Food Preparations

Studies shows that the way we cook our food is common cause of food contamination.   Germs such as campylobacter, salmonella and E. coli are found in our kitchen.  These can easily be spread if we are not careful.  Our hands serves the primary transport of these germs to our food and even pets at home. It is important that we wash our hands with soap after touching the bin, using the toilet, touching any raw food and when cooking. Inadequate food handling is the common cause of food contamination / food poisoning.  One key factor also is to keep all kitchen utensils (Popsicle maker, bread knife, cake and pie server, chef’s knife, colander, fish slicer and etc.

In cases where foods aren’t cooked, proper storage should be observed. This is to preserve the food freshness and to avoid rotting.  If food isn’t stored properly, it can cause serious food poisoning, flu, colds and other conditions.

In general there are effective ways to prepare and cook your food safely.  In doing these you can ensure that your food is safe to eat and free from germs that causes illness.

1.      Hand washing- Germs are spread through our hands, it is important to keep our hands sanitize every time.  The only way to sanitation is through washing hands with warm water and soap.  It also good to use hand sanitizers and alcohol. 

2.     Washing Fruits and Vegetable- The best way to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables is to wash them through running water before cooking/eating them.  Washing can effectively remove visible dirt and bacteria that are found in the surface.  Peeling can also be as effective in removing these germs. Never use any other cleaning products (especially chemicals) to your fruits and vegetables as this might not be good for consumption. It might that some chemicals stay on the foods that can cause poisoning.

3.      Cooking - Temperature is a crucial part in cooking, it is important that harmful bacteria are killed. In general, bacteria are killed at temperature hotter than 75C.  Below are list of foods that should be cooked thoroughly before eating.

·         Pork

·         Poultry

·         Sausages

·         Burgers

·         Kebabs

·         Meal

If you cooked that you are not going to eat immediately, keep it cool within 90 minutes and store in fridge. Foods that are put hot inside the fridge can cause food poisoning.

4.     Cleaning up - Wash chopping boards and other cooking utensils before and after cooking, as these can cause contamination in food.  According to studies, chopping board has more fecal bacteria than an average toilet seat.  Wet sponges and cloths are also perfect place for these bacteria to breed.  In fact, kitchen sponges have the highest number of germs in any other place of your home.  It is important that you replace these sponges, cloths, rugs, and towel frequently.

The Cold History of Popsicles

In the past, our favorite ice pops have outpaced other sweets and desserts in the race for America’s best nostalgic dessert.  During that time what we know popsicles are called artisan popsicles.  Unlike cupcakes and other portioned sweet condiments, popsicles have never been controlled over the consumption of the American people.  No wonder why Popsicle has evolved over time, and how this succumb trends in food preparations.

Ironically, contemporary popsicles are merely versions of treat invented by Frank Epperson in 1905.  Popsicle today still follows the same process of mixing ingredients and freezing till it become frozen pop.  Significantly, according to some, cherry has become the first flavor for ice pop as this was determined through the patented sketch in 1923.

As years gone by, popsicles popped up in the limelight with new colors and flavors.  Popsicles reached massive boot as it became America’s most favored condiment that era.  Other than historical attributes,   fancy popsicles today are just frozen water with artificial flavors in the past.  The popsicles we enjoyed today underwent innovation as other all desserts made their upgrade in taste too.

As a results, popsicles have beaten its ordinary taste as chocolate, tangerine and avocado flavors have been introduced in the market.  This twist in popsicles grew its marketability and thus leads to few more flavors such as orange, grape and cherry which became a well-liked flavor in the market.

Within the years, Popsicle maker arises which began the first market for ice pops in America.   The first companies are Kold Kake of New Jersey, Good Humor of Ohio, M-B Ise Kream of Texas.   Good humor and Popsicle (which are now under Unilever) agreed on a wary truce in which popsicles should be made of frozen desserts from water, and Good Humor shall then have the ice cream market.  But since, the market wants diversity in the development of ice milk, product named Fudgesicle arise as a product made of chocolate and butterscotch.

There are also other significant events in the history of popsicles, we have the two stick Popsicles during the era of depression.   For reason of affordability, Popsicle maker have to find an alternative way to sell Popsicle to the consumers who that time has no money to spend for popsicles.  The thought of two stick popsicles is for sharing, where you can share the other stick with your sibling, friend or mate which is more economical than the single Popsicle.