What a gorgeous hot, sunny long weekend we had here in Southern Ontario to kick off summer. We stayed close to home because of various soccer and baseball games scheduled, and it made for such a fun, spontaneous few days. Without a calendar full of commitments and events, our family was able to relax and take the days as they came.
When friends invited us over for a bbq, we ambled down with a bottle of wine and six-pack of beer to sit in their backyard for the first time this season. When a girlfriend invited me out for a movie and drinks, I kissed the kids goodnight and headed over to the theatre, slipping in just as the trailers were starting.
We biked to baseball diamonds instead of piling into the van, and the kids hosted spontaneous playdate after playdate. One kid, two kids, three kids would show up with baseball gloves, basketball and water guns. Eventually most playdates ended up in the backyard with a bunch of kids wearing borrowed bathing suits and running through the sprinkler.
In a family that is often planning our week’s events and activities with the precision of a military operation, we all relaxed and appreciated the opportunity to take each moment as it came. However, every mother knows that the challenge of so many spontaneous playdates is that snacks need to be available, and they need to be available NOW! With the temperature hitting close to 30 degrees, kids were requesting cold drinks and popsicles every time I turned around.
That’s what I was so thrilled to be able to use my new Zoku Quick Pop Maker from Williams-Sonoma. Stick this baby in the freezer for at least 24 hours, and it’s got a special solution inside similar to an ice cream maker, allowing you to pour your favourite juice in and watch a popsicle freeze in as little as seven minutes! It’s made of non-stick cast aluminum, and you can make three batches, or nine popsicle treats at a time!
My kids have feasted on fudgesicles made with chocolate milk, and added caramel sauce and strawberries. They’ve layered apple juice, cranberry juice, mango juice, orange juice and pineable juice and thrown in blueberries, mangoes and raspberries. They love planning their next concoction, and sharing these treats with their friends.
After at least a dozen batches, I’m thrilled with how well this works, how neatly the popsicles come out, and how easy clean up is!
Find the Zoku Quick Pop Maker at Williams-Sonoma for $49.95 and get a little spontaneous with frozen treats!
Great idea. i have a birthday party next week and i am going to go get one tomorrow. Thanks for the great idea.
What a great invention. My kids love the popsicles with different flavors but I would have never known how to make them. Very cool. thanks.
Oh man, I could’ve used one of those today!