Healthy Summer Treats From The Garden

Strawberry Harvest

This is almost the last of my strawberries, but it is not the end of summer fruits as many more are coming into season. I have now had some cherries, cantaloupe and blueberries from the market. My own blueberries are starting to show some color. Time for some Healthy Summer Treats – many from your own garden.

Aside from the obvious: Serving up cut cantaloupe or watermelon or eating whole fruit like blueberries, there are other healthy deserts that you can make yourself, with little effort.. There are many wonderful homemade Popsicle recipes, ice cream or frozen fruit.

Since my twin grandsons went on a gluten free, soy free, corn free, milk free diet, my son has had to look for alternatives to their favorite treat – ice cream (mine too). I got them an ice cream maker so that they can make up batches of ice cream with milk, cream and soy substitutes along with their favorite fruit or chocolate. The boys Love it.

Homemade Ice Cream – Use your fruit to make Homemade Ice Cream It is very tasty and usually more healthy than store bought. Almost any fruit can be cut or blended and turned into a basic ice cream or ice yogurt recipe.

But there is an even simpler alternative – Homemade Popsicles. There are so many wonderful homemade Popsicle recipes that are so much healthier than the expensive colored sugar water Popsicles that they sell in stores. I make them for myself when I don’t want to bother with the ice cream maker.

I had become very addicted to Trader Joes spicy mango Popsicles until they discontinued them. I then I thought to myself, why not buy the frozen mangoes, make a slurry in a blender, add some cayenne pepper and freeze them. It would be a lot healthier. So I found some BPA free molds. I have been having fun, not only making mango Popsicles, but using other frozen fruit and fresh summer fruit to make them.

Home Made Popsicles

This is how I make them. I figured how much volume there was in all the Popsicle molds (mine hold about 3 Cups). Then I use whatever fruit I have on hand (fresh or frozen) to make the Popsicle mixture.

. I use some yogurt (plain or vanilla) as a base

. Add fruit to make mixture and blend.

. Sweeten with frozen orange juice (or your favorite sweetener.) (The more natural and low cal the better) Or leave without sweetener. Many fruits are sweet enough as is.

. Fill molds

. Freeze and enjoy.

There are tons of popsicle recipes online. I have collected a bunch on Pinterest.

Alternative:

. Use any kind of melon blended up and frozen. This makes a wonderful Popsicle.

Cut Melon Frozen

For that matter, an even easier thing to do would be to cut your melon (any kind) into large chunks, put toothpicks or Popsicle sticks into them and freeze.

Frozen Chocolate Bananas

One last treat that I have been making is not so low cal, but it is decadent.

. I take a banana, and cut it in half.

. Then I insert Popsicle sticks.

. I then melt two large squares of bittersweet chocolate and dip the bananas into it. (I used Ghiardelli’s bittersweet chocolate.)

. Place on wax paper and freeze.

This is Soo easy, and Soo delicious. I do think that you can find milk free chocolate so my grand kids can have some of these too.

The possibilities are endless. The treats are much better than anything you can buy and much healthier.

Happy Summer!

16 Replies to “Healthy Summer Treats From The Garden”

Liz says:

July 5, 2012 at 4:17 am

These are great reminders. I am loving those pictures of the strawberries and blueberries growing. Nice work!
Liz

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1. lionmom says:
  
  July 5, 2012 at 8:18 am
  
  Hi Liz,
  
  Thanks. I wish I could claim the watermelon picture, as this is creative commons, but the blueberries and strawberries are mine. I also have evergreen huckleberries which will produce enough to make nice toppings for ice cream. I can still dream of planting watermelon.
  
  Yael
  
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Danielle says:

July 5, 2012 at 6:38 am

If only the birds wouldn’t eat my strawberries 🙂

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1. lionmom says:
  
  July 5, 2012 at 8:24 am
  
  Danielle,
  
  Too bad about the birds eating the strawberries. I certainly love mine, where I have to battle the slugs. 😉 You could try floating row covers. They may at least slow down the birds. My blueberries are just starting to ripen and I am waiting for the birds to discover them.
  
  Yael
  
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Cottage and Broome says:

July 5, 2012 at 9:13 pm

I love strawberries so nice you grow your own! I think the deer would eat them all if I tried to grow them. Thanks so much for stopping by, Laura

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1. lionmom says:
  
  July 6, 2012 at 3:28 pm
  
  Laura,
  
  Thanks for coming by. Yes critters can be a problem. Fortunately I don’t have deer, but I do have slugs and an occasional rabbit. The slugs get their share of the strawberries. I have to pick them after they are ripe, but before the slugs find that out. Not an easy fete.
  
  Yael
  
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My Little Home and Garden says:

July 6, 2012 at 6:52 am

That looks like a tasty treat on this hot summer day.

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1. lionmom says:
  
  July 6, 2012 at 3:34 pm
  
  Yes indeed, it is. We are trying to stay cool and well fed. Tonight, I think I’ll make some of those chocolate banana Popsicles. (no I don’t grow my own bananas, but I have heard of some people in the Northwest who either grow them in greenhouses or have a good micro climate in their yard that allows it.)
  
  Yael
  
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Carla says:

July 6, 2012 at 12:49 pm

Sweetness!! Literally:) Thanks for sharing, we are on a low sugar diet and I know hubby will love these:)

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1. lionmom says:
  
  July 6, 2012 at 10:12 pm
  
  Carla,
  
  Thanks. And thanks for coming by.
  
  I hope that you will enjoy some of these. We are having some nice goodies this summer.
  
  Yael
  
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Nancy @ A Rural Journal says:

July 7, 2012 at 5:23 am

Lots of yummy goodness here — wish I wasn’t trying to shed a few pounds!

Thank you for sharing at Rural Thursdays this week. xo

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1. lionmom says:
  
  July 7, 2012 at 2:18 pm
  
  Nancy,
  
  I know what you mean. My will power isn’t quite strong enough to forego treats, so I try to minimize the damage. 🙂
  
  Yael
  
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Beth says:

July 16, 2012 at 6:15 am

Hi Yael, Your healthy treats look good, especially the chocolate dipped banana. You asked if I still have peonies and lupines blooming (I showed them in my recent post). They are not. Some of the garden pictures in my “Where Bloggers Create” post are not current to today’s flowers. Have a great week!

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1. lionmom says:
  
  July 16, 2012 at 1:29 pm
  
  Hi Beth,
  
  Thanks for coming by. The chocolate dipped bananas are awesome. Have a great week, yourself.
  
  Yael
  
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Jann Olson says:

July 17, 2012 at 8:33 pm

I am a lover of all fruit and you have shared some fun ways to enjoy it even more. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
Hugs,
Jann

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Laura Jennings says:

July 26, 2012 at 9:33 am

What a great treat! I really love strawberries but i think i have no luck in growing them in my lawn. 😦 By the way i really love the Frozen Chocolate Bananas. Yum! Yum!

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