Homemade Yogurt Pops, and Fruity Popsicles

Nothing says SUMMER like ice-cold popsicles…

I’ve been craving fruit of every kind this summer.
Of course every year we miss the fresh berries and other yummy summer fruit from the mainland.  (We are looking into shipping a few crates of peaches over here right now!)   But we do enjoy every piece of tropical fruit we can get our hands on.  And there is plenty.

This week I’ve been in the mood to freeze up some fruity deliciousness.
So I did, and now I’m hooked…I may never stop…

It all started with a lovely selection of tropical fruit (mostly from our own yard.)  Next we picked up some plastic cups, and started dreaming…

Our nanny Sandra (aka Dora the Explorer,) climbed a few trees and maybe just leapt a fence or two to find us some lilikoi.
Have you ever had lilikoi?

You spoon out those gooey little seeds and it is sweet and tart and slimy in the most delicious way.  I promise you’d love it.

And then she asked if MAYBE it was time to pick the lone mango that has been dangling from our huge tree over our driveway for months now.  (It’s been taunting her…:))  And I said if she could find a way up there–she could get it.

And Dora did it:

I don’t know how to tell you about the flavor of this mango.   Expect to tell you that when I took a bite, I got goosebumps on my knees.
Yes, my knees.  I’m not sure if that has ever happened to me before.  That.  Good.
(Delicioso!)

Then I took some really good (full fat, nothing fake) yogurt, and mixed it up with every fruit I could find–local and imported…

And I scooped it into the cups.   We found some jumbo craft sticks in my craft bin, and stuck them in…

For a second batch, we simply mixed a natural grape juice with all of the same fruits.

And after making everyone wait many long, excruciating hours…
The popsicles and yogurt pops were ready.
And our taste-testers were ready as well.

These are some serious critics you know.
(I nervously waited for the response…)

And sure enough, it was all thumbs up.

A very happy day.

A very refreshingly, happy day.

A silly, funny, happy day.

Even if a rather messy, happy day.

I have a feeling this is going to become a regular around here.

So, if you and your kids need a happy summer day, you might want to give these a try.

And if you have fresh berries and peaches, I hope you’ll put them in there.  And appreciate every bite…for me.

With Aloha,

The grommom