Month: April 2013

Where I am now in Manila: I feel like am in a giant oven with this heat! I’ve made a mental note to be in Alaska or the Himalayas at this same time next year. Suddenly, am craving for the chilling cold instead of seemingly being burned alive in the sun when I go out these days. I really wish Summer 2013 isn’t this cruel to the skin, eyes & everything else

One great tip for coping: hydrate! hydrate! Drink tons of water if you can, or take refuge in something cool like ice cream….. and popsicles! Am glad Tess of The Maya Kitchen sent me this recipe for fruit-flavored ice pops because they’re really something that kids (and the kids-at-heart) can delight in this summer. If you ever wondered how to make popsicles other than buying them in the store, here it is. They’re easy to do too!

Banana Flavored Pops
½ cup                sugar
1 tbsp.          MAYA Cornstarch
¾  cup               whole milk
½ cup                cream
½ cup                water
3 tablespoons        lemon juice
2 pieces             ripe bananas

 
Strawberry Flavored Pops

½ cup                  sugar
2 tbsp.          MAYA Cornstarch
1 cup                  whole milk
½ cup                  cream
1 cup                  frozen strawberries
½ cup                  strawberry filling (optional)
3 tbsp.            lemon juice
 
Orange-Mango Flavored Pops

1/2 cup                 sugar
2 tbsp.            MAYA Cornstarch
¼ cup                   whole milk
½ cup                   cream
1 ½ cups                orange juice
½ cup                   mango concentrated
2 tablespoons           lemon juice
 
Prepare Banana Pops: In a sauce pan, combine sugar and cornstarch then add in milk, cream and water.  Bring to a boil and simmer for a few minutes.  Remove from heat and cool a bit. Put the mixture in a blender, add in lemon juice and bananas and process until smooth. Pour in a popsicle mould.  Insert the sticks and freeze for 6 hours.

Prepare Strawberry Pops: In a sauce pan, combine sugar and cornstarch then add in milk and cream.  Bring to a boil and simmer for a few minutes.  Remove from heat and cool a bit. Put the mixture in a blender, add in frozen strawberries, strawberry filling and lemon juice and process until smooth.  Pour in a popsicle mould.  Insert the sticks and freeze for 6 hours.

Prepare Orange-Mango Pops: In a sauce pan, combine sugar and cornstarch then add in milk and cream.  Bring to a boil and simmer for a few minutes.  Remove from heat and cool a bit. Put the mixture in a blender, add in orange juice, mango concentrate and lemon juice and process until smooth.  Pour in a popsicle mould.  Insert the sticks and freeze for 6 hours.

NOTE: To make a three layer popsicle, pour a little amount of each flavoured mixture into popsicle mould allowing each flavors to freeze for a few minutes before adding the second and a third mixture.