Summer is not only the time for beach and sun, but also the time for delicious frosty treats. As much as you love banana split and cookie dough ice cream, are you still on the prowl for something new? There is a lot more out there than chocolate sundaes! Growing up in an Asian household, I would often eat Asian frozen desserts to cool off in the summer heat. The following are a few of my favorites--why don't you give them a try?
Melon Popsicles
This is my all-time favorite summer treat. Not only are melon popsicles cool and sweet, but they are good for you too. They are available for purchase at your local Asian specialty food store, but adventurous folks may want to make their own. Here's the recipe:
Ingredients and Equipment
-*1 ripe melon that has been seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces, filling up about 4 cups
-1/4 cup water
-2/3 cup lime juice
-1/4 cup regular granulated or superfine sugar
-1/2 tablespoon light corn syrup
-Popsicle sticks
-Popsicle molds
*You can use any melon of your choice, like cantaloupe or watermelon. However, this popsicle is usually made with honeydew.
Instructions
The following makes about 6-10 Popsicles, depending on what kind of mold you use.
1. Dissolve the sugar in the water. If you are using regular granulated sugar, then heat together using a small heavy saucepan and cool. If you are using superfine, then just stir the sugar in the water until all the sugar is melted.
2. Blend half of the lime juice and half of the melons in a blender until the mixture is smooth.
3. Add the remaining lime and melon juice, as well as the syrup, into a smooth puree.
4. Force the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl of about 2 quarts. Press the solids until all the liquid is in the bowl, then discard the solids.
5. Pour the concoction into the molds and freeze until the mixture is slushy, which usually is about 2 hours.
6. Insert the sticks, then freeze everything until the mixture is completely solid, which usually takes at least 6 hours. After this, your popsicles should be ready for eating.
Melon Popsicles
This is my all-time favorite summer treat. Not only are melon popsicles cool and sweet, but they are good for you too. They are available for purchase at your local Asian specialty food store, but adventurous folks may want to make their own. Here's the recipe:
Ingredients and Equipment
-*1 ripe melon that has been seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces, filling up about 4 cups
-1/4 cup water
-2/3 cup lime juice
-1/4 cup regular granulated or superfine sugar
-1/2 tablespoon light corn syrup
-Popsicle sticks
-Popsicle molds
*You can use any melon of your choice, like cantaloupe or watermelon. However, this popsicle is usually made with honeydew.
Instructions
The following makes about 6-10 Popsicles, depending on what kind of mold you use.
1. Dissolve the sugar in the water. If you are using regular granulated sugar, then heat together using a small heavy saucepan and cool. If you are using superfine, then just stir the sugar in the water until all the sugar is melted.
2. Blend half of the lime juice and half of the melons in a blender until the mixture is smooth.
3. Add the remaining lime and melon juice, as well as the syrup, into a smooth puree.
4. Force the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl of about 2 quarts. Press the solids until all the liquid is in the bowl, then discard the solids.
5. Pour the concoction into the molds and freeze until the mixture is slushy, which usually is about 2 hours.
6. Insert the sticks, then freeze everything until the mixture is completely solid, which usually takes at least 6 hours. After this, your popsicles should be ready for eating.
