Chill Out!

The week between school and camp is always a special mix of stress and chaos for parents and kids. The juggle of keeping kids occupied when there’s no schoolwork, no schedule, lots of outdoor time, and endless errands involved in getting ready for summer makes everyone cranky. Since I’ve never been above bribing my kids (or rewarding myself!) with an occasional ice pop, it’s an excellent treat that puts everyone in a better mood.

Summertime frozen treats are just the answer to take down the heat a few notches (both internally and externally). Nowadays, modern gadgets have made homemade frozen desserts and popsicles so easy to prepare that they are an easy hack in the kitchen without a big investment of time and money. Fresher, tastier, and less expensive than the store-bought varieties and with minimal effort required, that’s a compelling argument to start making and freezing your own.

Popsicles are a great value. Once your mixture or juice is prepared, simply pour and store in your freezer. When I was a kid, we did it with old-school Tupperware popsicle holders. This was actually much fancier than its predecessor: the humble plastic cup with a toothpick stuck through the plastic wrap (which still works!). Leaking ices with red juice dripping down my arms were part of the summer “experience.” I have a collection of larger, sturdier molds in different, fun shapes (that also catch drips!). I love the Tovolo molds, both because they’re not flimsy and also because you can make multi-color rocket ships and win the mother-of-the-year award. While hard plastic molds like these are the most common, silicon molds are also effective at creating fun shapes and they peel right off the popsicle. Plan ahead and make your pops in advance!

{Chill Out with some more tips:

• Thinking ahead is necessary with frozen treats because, after all, they need time to freeze.
• Try to keep freezer-friendly ingredients on hand, like juices and fresh fruits, so you are always prepared.
• Be resourceful and re-purpose: fruit soups, smoothies, and sweet alcoholic mixed drinks make great frozen pops and sorbets and reduce waste.

{Creamy Caramel Yogurt Pops

Yield: 6-8 pops

For a thick, tart, yogurt flavor, Greek yogurt can be used in this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup plain Greek or plain whole milk yogurt

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cup purchased thick caramel sauce or dulce de leche

Special equipment: Popsicle molds

Directions:

Whisk yogurt, cream, vanilla, and cinnamon together in a mixing bowl until blended. Whisk in caramel.

Pour mixture into Popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 6 hours or until frozen solid. 

Naomi Ross is a cooking instructor and food writer based in Woodmere, NY. She teaches classes throughout the country and writes articles connecting good cooking and Jewish inspiration. Her first cookbook, The Giving Table, was released in December 2022. Follow her at @naomirosscooks on Instagram/FB/TikTok or visit NaomiRossCooks.com.