Hot days, dusty roads…bare feet…simple enjoyments at a time when money was scarce make up my mom”s summertime memories. Most treats were homemade, whether it was ice cream or popsicles. The flavors of the popsicles that were available to be bought were limited at the time to basics like grape, cherry, etc. Twin “sicles” to be shared by pulling hard on the thin wood sticks, separating the icy goodness often led to sisterly squabbles over favorite flavors, more memories. Teeth slicing through the frozen concoction until they hit the hardness of the fibrous wooden stick. The popsicles then were basically kool-aid poured into rubber or plastic popsicle makers (or even the old metal or plastic ice trays) and frozen until hard. The only problem was that the process took hours, valuable freezer space, and required planning ahead on the parts of smart parents!
Sharing that her favorite flavor was grape, my mom laughed as she recounted that it was probably not her mother”s choice for her child. Not including the bright purple ring around the mouth, the purple lips, and even blueish-purple teeth that were a visible result of the enjoyment; in the race to eat the popsicle before it melted in the heat of the hot Southern sun, the quick purple drips usually rolled off the tongue and lips to bounce off shirts and skirts, roll down socks, and then cling tightly to shoes and strings. Limited resources did fuel creativity, leading my mom to freeze pudding to make pops…coconut, pistachio, and chocolate…the creamy goodness of real bits of coconut and pistachios were rewarding and the deep rich taste of chocolate actually imitated the store-bought fudge-sicle, another of my mom”s favorite childhood delights!
Popsicles go beyond a simple lickable treat. By slipping a flavored popsicle into a glass and then pouring a beverage over it, a pop-licious beverage is created.
One of my favorite mocktails is grapefruit juice, a squeeze of lime, agave, and club soda. For my pop-tail drink version, see photo above.
Sour Pop-tail
1/3 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1 1/2 Tbsp. light agave
2 thin lime slices
1/4 cup club soda
Combine the grapefruit juice, agave, and 1/3 cup water. Using the Zoku fruit wand, apply a lime slice to the wall of the Zoku Quick Pop Maker mold. Repeat with second lime slice in the second mold. Insert the sticks and pour the grapefruit mixture to the fill line. Let freeze completely, then remove the popsicles with the Super Tool. Place each of the grapefruit-lime popsicles in a glass and then pour 2 Tablespoons of the club soda into each glass. Allow the popsicle to melt, stir, and sip or dip, lick, and sip. Enjoy!
A pina colada mocktail is my mom”s favorite. Whenever we are on a beach vacation, my mom likes to sip on creamy, frothy frozen pina coladas. I knew she would love a pop-tail version.
Pina Colada Pop-tail
1 can unsweetened coconut milk, the top white part only
1/2 cup coconut water
3 Tbsp. cream of coconut (light agave can be substituted)
1 cup pineapple juice
Garnish: pineapple wedge
Blend all of the ingredients together until smooth. Chill. Stir. Insert sticks into the Zoku Quick Pop Maker Molds. Pour the coconut mixture to the fill line. Let freeze completely, then remove the popsicles with the Super Tool. Place the popsicles into glasses. Pour about 1/4 cup of the pineapple juice into each glass. Allow the popsicle to melt, stir, and sip or dip, lick, and sip. Enjoy!
Makes 3 to 4 pop-tails
Need a punch to make for a wedding or baby shower? How about serving these pop-tails instead. Create personalized flavors for the bride or mom-to-be.
The Zoku popsicle maker would make a cute gift for Mother”s Day. I know my mom loves it especially when I make her my pina colada pop-tail. Visit www.zokuhome.com for more info on the popsicle maker.
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