Cookbook Giveaway: Pops!
It doesn’t feel much like a Popsicle kind of day with the rain streaming down the windows. I’m back in jeans, boots and a cardigan this morning, but I will admit the cool, overcast weather was perfect for gardening this weekend. I put in two Better Boys, two Lemon Boys and two California Wonder red bell pepper plants.
Before long, we’ll be melting in the sun and enjoying dinners made with thick, fresh slices of homegrown tomato. And for dessert, it might be nice to have a treat from this new cookbook, “Pops!” by Krystina Castella. This book offers icy treats for people of all ages, but as I flip through it I realize the recipes all seem very grown-up. By that, I don’t mean they call for alcohol. I mean they are some really unusual and sophisticated freezer pops.
For example, here are some recipes in the book:
* PB & Sesame Raspberry Pops
* Banana & Date Pops
* Sugar Pumpkin Pops
* Ginger Lemon-Lime Pops
* Vanilla Soy Ice Cream Pops
* Pomegranate & Apple Pops
* Mulled Cider & Walnut Pops
* Thai Iced Coffee Pops
If you’re like me, you’re starting to forget how dreary it is outside and you’re wishing you had one of these unique pops in your hand. Well, you have a chance to win this cookbook if you leave a comment on this blog entry and tell me what is your favorite kind of freezer pop, or who do you know who would love the pops recipes in this book. The deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday; I’ll announce the winner on Thursday.
I’ll share two below to get the juices flowing.
Chocolate Soy Ice Cream Pops
Makes six 8-oz. pops
4 egg yolks
1 1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 cups plain soymilk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup soy yogurt
1. Combine the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl and beat until the mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
2. Heat the soymilk in a saucepan. Add egg mixture and chocolate chips. Gently heat the mixture, stirring until thick and smooth. Refrigerate the mixture for 2 to 3 hours.
3. Fold the yogurt into the soymilk mixture and pour mixture into an ice cream maker. Prepare according to the manufacturer’s instructions, halting the freezing process before the ice cream is fully set.
4. Scoop the ice cream into pop molds, insert the sticks and freeze for 8 hours.
5. Remove from the freezer; let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before removing the pops from the molds. Serve.
Bing Cherry & Vanilla Pops
Makes six 8-oz. pops
3 cups pitted, halved bing cherries
1 cup cherry juice
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 tsp. honey
1. Combine 2 cups of the cherries with cherry juice, yogurt, vanilla extract, and honey in a food processor or blender; process until smooth.
2. Stir in remaining 1 cup cherries.
3. Fill pop molds with the mixture. Insert the sticks and freeze for at least 6 hours.
4. Remove from the freezer; let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before removing the pops from the molds.
Alternative: Use 3 cups sour cherries. Simmer all of the cherries with 1 cup cherry juice and 1/4 cup sugar over low heat for 10 minutes. Let cool, then combine with the yogurt, vanilla extract and honey and fill the pop molds.
Source: “Pops!” by Krystina Castella
May 14, 2012 - 10:13 AM
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I would love to have this book! I bought some popsicle molds last summer and would love to have some new ideas for filling them.
I made some peach/raspberry pops last summer that were really good. I’m looking forward to trying different fresh fruit pops this summer. Aside from loving them myself, they make a healthy snack choice for my grandchildren.
Who doesn’t love popsicles? The recipe for the cherry pops sounds scrumptious. I’m adding cherries to the shopping list. The only pops I’ve ever made other than Koolaid pops, were called Orange Dream and the texture didn’t seem quite right. Would love to be able to make pops that were actually edible!
Vickie, I think cherries will be in season very, very soon. Mine are already red and starting to drop. Some local sweet cherries would be awesome in those pops!
Mmmm…what a delicious looking book! My mom and I are both food nuts and I think we’d have a blast making all kinds of pops this summer. Last summer was the “summer of pies” at my mom’s house…she went a little crazy and we had more pie than we knew what to do with (all with her wicked homemade pastry crust of course). Perhaps we could make this the “summer of pops?” And while I love all kinds of fruit and yogurt pops, I must admit that I’m a sucker for anything fudgy
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I would love to make these with my son this summer! I have a website favorited with a few basic recipes but these look interesting! We would have a blast
I almost always have some type of popsicles or fudge pops in my freezer, with the current enjoyment being “yosicle pops.” It would be AWESOME to start making my own (and probably healthier)! Thanks for sharing!
I love to use smoothie from the store for the kids. My kids loves mango smoothie and mango pops! best thing ever. I also try to use kefir or probiotic smoothies. Also good
My kids and I are suckers for yogurt pops. We have a few pop molds that we will fill with a yogurt creation from time to time. My youngest daughter is also bad for trying to freeze sweet tea into popsicles LOL.
The chocolate soy ice cream pops sounds divine. I wonder if you can use an egg replacer and get the same results.
Hi Lindsey, not so interested in the pops, sorry. But, I do want to comment on the first part of your entry, about TOMATOES!! We planted six Supersonics last week, and seven Better Boys. I’ve been going outside five or more times a day just to look at them out there! It’s a big part of spring for me, along w/ looking at all of the pretty blooms that we’ve been seeing! It just makes me feel good knowing that tomato sandwiches are on the horizon!!
Wow, Dennis, if all those plants do well you are going to have a lot of tomatoes! It’ll be canning and/or freezing time. I can’t wait for a tomato sandwich either.
I’d like to learn some *HEALTHY* alternatives other than froyo and low-fat ice cream. I think this book might do the trick!
how about grapes pops for a treat to cool you down during the summer
I have several nieces and nephews who would love to be my guinea pigs this summer using recipes from this book! They love to come over and swim in my pool every summer! Thanks!
strawberry pops