Hydrating, packed with antioxidants, and a cinch to put together, these blueberry mint popsicles will make you shun the store-bought stuff for good. Get the recipe here, plus all the reasons you NEED a set of Zoku popsicle molds in your life.

When my husband and I lived in the Bronx (and before we had our daughter), one of our favorite date nights involved barbacoa gorditas and Modelos at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Cosinita's.  The owner/waitress would generously practice a bit of Spanish with me, while her husband manned the grill and turned out some of the best Mexican food in the city.  My favorite part of the meal?  Choosing a paleta from the locked sidewalk cooler on our way out.  With spicy mango, tamarindo, creamy strawberry, and coconut all on offer, it was often a tough decision!  

While I'll never be able to replicate the ambience of Cosinita's or their spicy goat meat, I can certainly hone my paleta-making skills! And now that I've finally invested in a set of Zoku popsicle molds, I'm only limited by my imagination.  

Tips for successful frozen treats:

-Skip the ice cubes.  Utilize water-filled fruits and vegetables, like grapes and cucumbers, in place of actual water for better texture and added nutrition.  

-Turn to banana and avocado for creaminess.  See my recipe for Vegan Chai Popsicles, which utilizes both.

-Opt for berries when in season for peak sweetness.  Strawberries are now in season (and on sale!), with blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries becoming more readily available just in time for summer.  

What I love most about the Zoku is that the individual molds are truly individual, making for easy removal.  It's also nice to have the option of whipping up just a couple of pops when I'm experimenting with different flavors.  The molds and reusable sticks rinse clean, and though a bit on the larger size (liquid capacity is close to half a cup), a two year-old can handle one of these pops just fine! 

Blueberry Mint Popsicles

Author: Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT

Special equipment: Blender (I use the single-serve Ninja attachment), popsicle molds 

Ingredients:

One pint blueberries, rinsed

Half a seedless cucumber (long kind wrapped in plastic), peeled and sliced

2 T. chopped fresh mint (about 8 leaves)

1 T. honey (optional)

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth.  If using Ninja single serve attachment, place cucumber slices in first.  Pour mixture into molds.  Freeze overnight, at least 4 hours.  Serve and enjoy.

Yield: 5 Zoku pops

Enjoy your food, enjoy your life!!!