Fruit-sicles

Why howdy and hello :)

Today I went and bought a variety of fruit while grocery shopping in order to make some fruit-sicles that my husband's wonderful Aunt Patti posted on Facebook a few weeks ago.  Just shared the first helping with the hubby and kiddos and they were a huge hit!  So, because it was my first attempt, I made two separate batches; one with the fruit blended up together, and one chopped up as the original recipe suggests.  Survey results were as follows: myself and my middle son preferred the blended variation, whereas my husband and other two kids liked the chunks of fruit.  Baby, of course, abstained from trying them this time.  His vote is still that mommy's milk is the best :) So it's up to you what your texture preference is as to what you decide to do with yours, but we did all agree on one thing…they were delicious!!!

Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:
3 cups watermelon puree {seedless if possible}
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1 peach or nectarine, diced small
handful fresh cherries, pitted and chopped

Cut the watermelon into chunks and then puree it in a blender until smooth. Set aside.

Set out about 1 dozen popsicle molds (amount needed will vary depending on size of molds). Fill each one with the chopped fresh fruit. Then pour in the watermelon puree until each mold is full to the top. Place a popsicle stick into each one. Place into your freezer and freeze for about 6 to 8 hours.

When ready to serve, run the popsicle molds under warm water for a few seconds and then pull each one out.

I halved the ingredients and did half of them completely pureed and the other half as directed.  I also added a quarter cup of sugar into each batch and blended it into the watermelon puree. My popsicle molds must have been slightly smaller also, so I got 14 fruit-sicles total, and they only took 5 hours to freeze for me.  

I'm pretty excited about these!!!  I'm planning on experimenting and making them again and again all summer!  I thought maybe peach-mango next, or cherry-vanilla {with vanilla yogurt}.  I even thought I might replace the watermelon puree with my favourite coconut drink and replace the rest of the ingredients with shredded coconut and banana blended together.  Anyway, just a few ideas for you all, but really, I don't think you can go wrong with these most delicious {and nutritious} fruit-sicles.  They're so yummy and a great base to enjoy as is or switch things up and do whatever you want with them!

Enjoy!

Update {May 24th, 2013}

Made another flavour of fruit-sicles today...

~ Coconut Banana Fruit-Sicles ~

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. Foco Brand Roasted Coconut Juice

1/4 c. shredded coconut

2 medium bananas

Blend it up, pour into popsicle molds, freeze for 5 hours and enjoy!  

They are so good!!!  

The sheer anticipation was almost too much for my kids to take!!!

But as you can see, it was worth the wait!

Also, try these Berry Good Muffins to use up any leftover fruit-sicle fruit :)