Fruit of the Summer

As summer is nearing the end, the days are getting shorter and the chill in the air is starting to come through the hot summer sun. At this point we are trying to get in as much of the summer joys as we can. One thing this summer I am obsessed with is homemade fruit Popsicles! I was given an instant Popsicle maker as a Christmas Gift last year and forgot about it till about May and have gone nuts with it since!

Zoku is the name of the brand and I know you can purchase it at William Sonoma. There are quite a few parts you have to buy to get the most out of it but it is worth all the fun you can have with it!

If you have ever used the Kitchen Aid mixer ice cream maker attachment (a mouthful!) then using the Zoku is going to be easy. The night before you are going to use it stick it in the freezer for at least 12 to 24 hours. Pick your recipe and have fun! I was also given the William Sonoma Ice Pops cookbook which has opened my mind to all kinds of flavor ideas.

The best part about this Zoku is that it takes around 6-10 minutes to freeze and get the pops ready to be eaten! My favorite recipe so far has been the Fresh Peach which I was lucky enough to get some amazing Georgia Peaches! Others we have made were the Watermelon Lime, Cantaloupe, Strawberry and Yogurt, Peaches and Yogurt, and of course Classic Fudge!

Now remember you do not have to own a Zoku to make these yummy treats. You can use an ice cube tray, a nonstick muffin pan, or individual silicone cupcake cups. Just keep in mind those methods are not instant and will take up to 2 to 4 hours depending on the recipe.

If you love mixing up the summer fruits and having them in a variety of settings then invest in this wonderful appliance! It will become a summer staple during those hot days. To get you started I have posted the Fresh Peach recipe below!

ENJOY :-)

3 ripe peaches about 1lb (peeled if desired)

1/4 cup superfine sugar

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

a pinch of salt

Makes 6-8 pops

Cut the peaches in half and remove the pits, then chop the flesh. Place in a blender or food processor. Add the sugar, lemon juice, salt, and 1/4 cup water and process until the mixture is completely smooth.

If using conventional ice pop molds, divide the mixture among the molds, cover and freeze until solid, at least 4 hours or up to 3 days. If using sticks, insert them into the molds when the pops are partially frozen, after about 1 hour, then continue to freeze until sold, at least three more hours.

If using an instant ice pop maker, follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill the molds and freeze the pops.