Hi Everyone, Daylight breaks earlier and the sun sets later, summer is here. Don’t even think of rolling your eyes because we live in a tropical environment 24/7. It is summer or if you prefer the August holidays. This means higher temperatures, sun lotion and the need to keep hydrated.
Everyone will advise you to drink lots of water. I would too but not today. Instead, I’d like to you to join me on a freezing expedition.
Do it and you’ll soon be turning back the hands of time to ‘small days’. If you have young children, nieces or nephew, they will love you forever for making these ice treats for them. I’m talk here about making ice blocks (aka flutee) and popsicles. You can get fancy by using various moulds or keep it simple by using use your ice trays.
My favourite by far is the Strawberry Nesquik ice blocks and they couldn’t be simpler to make – follow the instructions at the back of the container, pour the mixture into an ice tray and freeze it baby, freeze it!
My mother used to make frozen Strawberry Nesquik ice blocks for us as an afternoon treat after returning home from a day of school. Man, it was the right thing to hit the spot after walking home with the 3 o’clock sun high in the sky.
The first time she made it, it was such an unexpected delight and thereafter, each afternoon, I’d rush home and open the freezer door to see if there is an ice tray full of deep pink ice cubes. Alas, it was not an everyday occurrence.
It is always surprising the things that stay with you. To date, this is a childhood ice treat that has not lost its appeal. Every time I mix up a batch and freeze it, I return to that state of being a kid, only this time I don’t have to share the tray with anyone (sounds selfish I know); I can eat it to my heart’s content.
On this freezing expedition, I don’t only want you to freeze the Strawberry Nesquik, venture out and freeze fruit juices and drinks too. For example, try my mango-condensed milk smoothie or my watermelon-ginger drink.
Like I said before, you will become a hit with the little ones and yes, surprisingly, with the big ones too. There are so many fruits in season right now, knock yourselves out.
Here’s how to make the smoothie and drink.
Mango-Condensed Milk Smoothie
INGREDIENTS
2 ripe mangoes, peeled and pulp/flesh removed.
¼ cup condensed milk
2 cups water
DIRECTIONS
Add all the ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Pass through a sieve if the mango was stringy.
Pour mixture into ice trays and freeze until hard.
Watermelon-Ginger Drink
INGREDIENTS
4 cups chopped, de-seeded watermelon
1 ½ cups water
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
Sugar to taste
DIRECTIONS
Add all the ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth.
Pour the ingredients into ice trays and freeze until hard.
NOTE
Omit the sugar for a no-added sugar drink.
Cynthia
