Heat Can be Yummy

Like Greengirl said, it's burning outside. It's so hot, I sleep without blankets. It's so hot, I don't even feel like going up the stairs. It's so hot, I lie on the tiles and eat ice cream at the same time (which takes skill). Ice cream and Popsicles may seem like salvation in this heat, but they are not only unhealthy but also horrible for the environment. Popsicles come individually wrapped, which creates a lot of waste, and ice cream is full of heavy cream and high fructose corn syrup. 

Here are a few simple, eco-friendly, healthy recipes that will help you keep cool and save the enviroment:

Grape Pops Recipe

(from Pops! Icy Treats for Everyone by Krystina Castella (Quirk Books, 2008))

(makes eight 6-ounce pops)

1 cups seedless red grapes, cut in half
4 cups white grape juice

8 plastic cups

8 popsicle sticks/chopsticks

8 banana slices

1. Stick a banana slice on each stick and place into the center of the cup, banana-slice-side down.

2. Divide the grape halves among the cups. Pour in the grape juice and reposition the sticks. 

3. Freeze for at least 6 hours.
4. Remove from the freezer;run tap water over the surface of the cup, and let sit for 3 minutes. 

5. Remove from mold and eat!

Citrus Popsicles

(makes eight 6-ounce popsicles)

1 cup of assorted fruit (frozen or fresh. Strawberries, kiwis, peaches, watermelon etc.)

16 ounces of lemon juice

4 cups orange juice

8 plastic cups

8 popsicle sticks/chopsticks

8 kiwi slices

1. Stick a kiwi slice on each stick and place into the center of the cup, kiwi-slice-side down.

2. Pour in 2 ounces of lemon juice per cup over the kiwi

3. Divide the assorted fruit into the cups; pour the orange juice and reposition the sticks.

4. Freeze for 6 hours

5. Remove from the freezer;run tap water over the surface of the cup, and let sit for 3 minutes. 

6. Remove from mold and eat!

Yogurt Parfait

(makes 4 servings)

2 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt

2 cups your favorite granola

2 1/2 cups fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries (hulled and sliced), and/or other fruit such as bananas, peaches or mangos, peeled and sliced

4 tablespoons honey

1. Line up 4 parfait, plastic, or other clear glasses.

2. Spoon 2 tablespoons of yogurt into each glass and smooth surface.

3. Spoon 2 tablespoons of fruit on top.

4. Repeat the process, adding a bit of honey here and there, to taste.

5. Spoon 2 tablespoons of granola on top.

6. Add a small dollop of yogurt on top of the granola in the center.

7. Position some berries on top of the yogurt.

8. Admire the beauty; Enjoy!

Yum! To be even more ecofriendly, use plastic popsicle sticks/chopsticks, so they can be washed and reused. Same goes with the cups.

~Lucy Hao