Grandkids and Strawberry Cream Frozen Summer Treat Recipe

Strawberry Boys

It was such a delight to have a few of the grandkids with us on Saturday. As you can see, one of the things we did was pick the strawberries from the garden. Everyone helped, and we got two baskets full.

One of the conversations with the 4 year old went something like this:

Him: 'Do you bemember when I was a baby?'
Me:  'Yes, I do!'
Him: (with furrowed brow) 'I don't bemember when you were a baby.'

I love the things kids come up with.

After lunch, I surprised them with creamy peach Popsicles. They met them with skepticism, but after a few bites, one of the grandsons said, 'Grandma, you should go start a popsicle business.' 

Whether my recipe is used for popsicles or just frozen in little custard cups, it is an easy and delicious summertime treat.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Icy Dessert

We discussed the various flavor possibilities. He suggested blueberry. His sister suggested raspberry. Those sound good too, so we've got at least four different flavors we'll be trying this summer. I don't think my blueberries are going to amount to more than bird food, but the raspberry crop looks very promising, and so far the strawberry crop is doing great. It helps that we're getting regular rains and warm temps.

Creamy Popsicles or Fruity Icy Dessert Recipe:

• 12   4 oz. popsicle molds  (I bought my 4 oz. molds from Amazon. They're called 'Tovolo Groovy Ice Pop Molds.)

• 1  8oz. block cream cheese OR the Greek Yogurt/Cream Cheese combination

• 3 c. fresh berries or peaches

• 1 small (3 oz.) pkg. sugar-free Jell-O  (or you can substitute 1 envelope Knox gelatin and 4 g. Stevia powder) along with a small pkg. of unsweetened Kool-Aid. (Personally, I didn't like that as much as the sugar-free Jell-O. I would like to find a brand of gelatin that used Splenda)

• 2 c. water, brought to a boil

Boil water. Sprinkle jello in and dissolve. Add berries or peaches. Place in blender and puree. Then add the 8 oz. cream cheese, a couple ounces at a time, while the blender remains in puree mode.  That's it. This completely filled my blender.

Pour into 4 oz. sherbet dishes or popsicle molds.

Freeze at least 3-4 hours.

Once frozen, you'll have to let the dishes sit out at room temp for10-20 minutes until you can chisel the dessert out with a grapefruit spoon. Believe me, it's worth it, and it lasts longer that way. The popsicles can be eaten as soon as frozen, of course, once you've managed to get them out of their individual molds by running hot water over them for a minute or two.

Makes enough for 12 popsicles or 12 sherbet dishes.

 Strawberry? Coming right up!

By the way, I learned from the lady at Walmart that the little dishes I was using were not called sherbet dishes. Walmart calls them 'condiment cups.' Really? Who uses that much ketchup or mayo??  Anyway, they're the perfect size for a dessert.

I think I'll also try using Knox unflavored gelatin and fruit juice, along with the cream cheese - and see what happens.

I'm planning to keep my freezer stocked with creamy popsicles this summer. I hope my taste testers hurry back to Grandma's house!!

Note: Frozen berries work well, for they bring the hot Jell-O water down in temperature before putting it in the blender. Otherwise, you can dissolve the Jell-O in 1 c. boiling water and then add 1 c. cold water to achieve the same thing.

I use unsweetened berries so that there's no sugar in this dessert.

The 'Magic Tickle Finger With Napkin'

Some things are simply sweet, classic Grandpa games. I'm sure I remember Kevin's dad playing that kind of silly game with our kids and I suspect that his grandpa played that with him. The boys were mesmerized! Grandpa used a different voice (at the boys' instruction) to play this game, and he would tickle them under their chins. Of course they were giggling long before the unpredictable 'Tickle Finger With Napkin' (using that deep and mysterious old-time scary movie voice) ever got near their faces. This went on for a good half hour!

I hope you had a lovely weekend too!

***

Check out my handcrafted, vegan soaps

Buy any 5 or more, Get 1 FREE

'Peaches & Almonds'

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Shop 

Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties: Inspiration Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday and Treasure Box Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Adorned From Above  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Junkin' Joe and Vintage Inspiration Friday and A Favorite Thing Saturday