Diet

10 ideas to stay cool in the summer

It’s a hot day! Your children are playing with the hose or in the pool and you are reading, in a hammock. This day would be perfect with some refreshments. Would you like some ideas?

Classic (and less classic!) lemonade

Homemade lemonade is an instant classic. Mix 3 cups of lemon juice (about 20 lemons), 2 cups of sugar and 4 cups of water. Add a few slices of lemon and ice cubes. To vary, empty the lemons as you extract their juice but keep the “shells” intact. On a baking pan, place the lemonade in the freezer until almost hard and make it a “slush” that will be served in your empty lemons. Decorate with a few raspberries.

Watermelon “mojito”

We found this recipe on Endless Simmer, where popular cocktails have been turned into iced pops. Here is and alcohol-free version.

  • 8 oz. watermelon juice (2 ½ cups of watermelon)
  • 2 oz. fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz. mint syrup (½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 1 cup mint for a full recipe)
  • 14 oz. Club soda

1. Using a mixer, make watermelon juice.

2.  Add lime juice and mint syrup to your watermelon juice and mix.

3. Fill the Popsicle mold ¾ of the way and fill up with Club soda.

4. Freeze for about two hours.

Frozen smoothies

Instead of drinking your usual smoothies recipe, put it in the freezer! You will have plenty of delicious and healthy frozen treats! My recipe: a handful of raspberry, a handful of strawberries, a handful of frozen mango pieces, a bit of orange juice, half a banana and a bit of soy milk in a blender.

Polar bears

To see them well, freeze gummy bears in a transparent juice. Lemonade, peach juice and grape juice will become the perfect little prison for your delicious polar bears.

Jell-O

Gelatine pops that do not melt on little hands, this is definitely worth a try! Follow the instructions on the box to make Jell-O or pudding and fill the mold with your mixture. Leave in freezer for 8 to 12 hours.

Did you say Nutella?

You can make delicious homemade fudge by mixing 1 ½ cup of milk and ½ cup of Nutella. Put in the freezer for two hours or until frozen. This recipe is perfect for the Zoku (read below). You can even add a few slices of banana.

Peach and coconut

I love the smell of coconut in the summer and for once, I will not smell it because of a shampoo or a sunscreen lotion. Here is an easy recipe created by Mother Thyme. Mix a cup of peach puree, a quarter cup of coconut milk, a teaspoon of vanilla and a tablespoon of sugar. Put in a mold, freeze and enjoy!

For your little monsters

Now that you have good ideas, you only need a good mold! Here is the cutest set of push pops. The monsters can be left standing on a table without melting away and because children must push it upwards, it won’t start melting right away under the sun.

Tovolo Rings

These frozen rings are fabulous! They will add a little bling to your summer and will be the perfect size for your children's small appetite. You can buy the moulds in several kitchen stores and online.

So tired of waiting

Here is the perfect machine for impatient little ones and to make last minute treats! The machine takes up a lot of space in your freezer but it is truly worth it since it will allow you to make what you feel like eating at the moment. Zoku Quick Pop Master costs $49.99 and you can add many accessories to your collection such as this display or this recipe book.

Image de Anne Costisella

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