Today is the first day of July and I’ve got all the feels. July is my son’s birthday month and I’m honestly so excited for it! He’s turning 4 which is sad but gosh he just seems to love me more and more with each passing day. Just this evening I was finishing up a late dinner on the couch while my husband worked with our girl on her beginning piano workbook. My little guy came up to me all unassuming about my sweet potato fries… Then casually took one off my plate and ate it. Then he plopped down next to me for the best cuddle session as we ate fries and talked about how much we loved each other. As I was stuffing my face (I was hungryyy) he stops and looks me in the eyes and says “you’re really pretty”. I MELT!!! Now I’m not totally sure if he was bribing me for more fries or what but it worked cause I was a big puddle of goo after that and gave away alllll my fries. (Even though he hates the fries when I make them for him… Funny how that works isn’t it?!)
Red, White, and Blueberry
Earlier in the evening, the kids got to eat these “healthy patriotic pops” after dinner. Now I realize this recipe is not technically a totally new recipe, but rather a spin off of my Berry Chia Pops. It has a few modifications to make them “patriotic” by using blended blueberries and strawberries in separate layers for the red and blue. I especially love how using berries means no harsh or artificial food dyes! And the kids are always up for a freezer pop, so when I can make them at home I jump at the chance to create something I know we are all going to love. Plus they are a ton of fun to make!
Whoopsy
In complete honesty, our first try making them didn’t turn out how I had hoped because the layers mixed together… This happened because I just wanted to take the shortcut of not freezing the layers separately. And the shortcut didn’t cut it! So I made them again today to share here, for those looking for impressively and perfectly, striped popsicles.
I will say though, the best part about these popsicles wasn’t the popsicles, it was just spending time together in the kitchen and letting the kids help. The kids each got to blend their own berries and since I love alliterations we called the strawberries “Sissy Strawberries” and the blueberries “Bubba Blueberries”. It made them feel so special!! And I just have a really good feeling in my heart that they are going to remember making these pops with mom in the summer and staying up late to eat them on the front porch.
Ahh summertime nostalgia is in full swing over here! Do you remember eating popsicles on the front porch during your childhood? How about those firecracker popsicles from the freezer asile?! And one more question… Would you say you get upset when recipes or projects with kids don’t turn out? Or do you focus on the time spent together and the memories made? I’m personally working on the latter 🙂 And I actually think I may love these pops with blended layers more that the perfectly striped ones because they represent the fun we had together!!
For the “Perfectly Striped” Pops 😉
You Will Need
1 cup frozen (thawed for 10 mins) strawberries
1 cup frozen (thawed for 10 mins) blueberries
1/2 cup Califia Farms Half Coconut Half Almond Creamer (divided into 2)
*Favorite yogurt (plain or vanilla; for dairy free use coconut yogurt!)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon honey (divided in 2)
popsicle sticks or cookie pop sticks
popsicle mold for 6 or dixie cups
*We use plain nonfat greek yogurt sweetened with a little honey 🙂
The Process
- Blend semi-thawed blueberries in blender with 1/4 cup creamer, 1/2 tbsp honey, and 1/2 tbsp chia seeds. Blend until smooth. (It’s okay if it’s a little chunky… I think that gives the pops more character!) Pop in molds and place in freezer immediately for 45 minutes.
- While blueberry layer is freezing, repeat this process with strawberries. Place the mixture in a measuring cup with spout and chill in fridge until ready for the strawberry layer (this layer is actually last to make the red, white, and blue, in order).
- After blueberry layer is done setting in freezer, remove and wipe sides with fingers or warm moistened towel for the “clean cut” striped look.
- Smooth yogurt over blueberry layer and pop back in freezer. This time for an hour (this also depends on how runny the yogurt is. For greek yogurt, setting time is less but for coconut yogurt I imagine it taking a bit longer).
- Once yogurt layer is set, remove from freezer and clean sides again for a clean cut look. Also push down gently on yogurt if it seems uneven so strawberry layer will sit directly on top.
- Grab strawberry mixture from fridge and gently pour over set yogurt layer. Then gently insert sticks into molds or cups. *Do not push all the way to the bottom! Insert about halfway right into the yogurt mixture. Just enough to hold the popsicle up while in the freezer. Place mold in freezer for 2 hours or until completely frozen through.
- Remove from freezer and place mold or cups under warm running water to gently loosen sides of pops. Then enjoy immediately or place in freezer tupperware for a healthy patriotic snack for later!
Photos for the Visual Learners
Here is the process again in photos. ENJOY!
What do you think?
Here is the “pretty popsicle”! Surely more of a pink-y red, white, and blue. I dig it though. Tell me if you like the swirly pop or the striped pop better 🙂
Which one do you love more?! I still vote for the one I made with the kiddos, but I’m a little biased! Have a wonderful 4th my friends!! Check out the video I made of the kids and I making the swirly pop right here on my Instagram! Video will be saved in popsicle highlight… Bye for now!
X o X o ,
