Fourth of July Party Prep - Popsicles!

​I love 4th of July! It’s always a time of so much spirit and goodwill, celebrating a truly unique nation that I’m so thankful for. 20 years ago, my family moved to America and we are truly living our version of the American dream. Although, we still love and miss things about our roots in South Africa (like Top Deck chocolate and Sparletta Crème Soda), America is where we found new opportunities (and hurdles) that have shaped me in many ways. Growing up in Seattle, we always celebrated 4th of July at friends’ houses, pool parties, and lots of delicious grilling and snacks. So this year, I decided to give some 4th of July popsicles a try and I'm LOVING them! They are both delicious and festive and the perfect addition to any celebration!. 

Tips for making red and white blueberry popsicles!

• Be sure to thin your purees, and your yogurt so that you can more easily layer them into the mold. If they are too thick, you will have trouble doing this neatly.
• For the sharpest stripes, have everything very cold before layering, that way the layers won’t tend to bleed into each other as much.
• Be sure to freeze each layer completely before going on to the next.

Supplies

• Popsicle mold - I used this one
• 1 medium punnet of strawberries (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 medium punnet of blueberries (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup of yogurt - I used a plain yogurt for this batch but would recommend a vanilla for added sweetness.
• Food processor or blender - I love  this one  and use it all the time.  

Recipe

1. Using a food processor or blender, blend strawberries and set aside.
2. Do the same with the blueberries.
3. Put the yogurt and each of the berry purees in small measuring cups with spouts. The goal is to thin them just a bit so they are pourable. Keep these cups chilling in the refrigerator when you are not using them.
4. To layer your pops, start by pouring a little of the blueberry in the bottom of each mold. The only tricky part to these popsicles is getting the layers in without too much spillage to mar your stripes. I cleaned up any drips with a damp paper towel.
5. Put the mold in the freezer and freeze for a bit of firmness, about 15 minutes.
6. Layer a little bit of yogurt into each mold for the next stripe. You will be able to see through the side of the mold to check your progress. 
7. Next comes your strawberry stripe, and so on until the molds are filled. Don't worry if the stripes are uneven, but do try to clean up any dribbles as you go. 
8. Place sticks in the mold and freeze until completely solid. 
9. Once filled and completely frozen solid, you can un-mold your pops. Fill the sink with hot water. Immerse the mold just up to the lip, being careful not to let any water splash onto the top. Hold it for 30 seconds, remove, and try to pull the pops out. If they don't slide out, immerse again for just a few seconds.
10. I recommend keeping the popsicles in the mold until you are ready to serve, or, if you are working in batches, wrap each pop quickly in waxed paper or put into a baggie and put back in the freezer. 

Hope you enjoy a fun 4th of July treat and have a fantastic holiday! 

xoxo,

Jessica