July is one of my absolute favorite months of the year. It's by about now that everyone has more or less adjusted to the hot and humid weather that accompanies mid-summer in Minnesota, and instead of grumbling about the heat, they decide to make the most of it. As many a seasoned mid-westerner will tell you, we have a lot of cold days in these parts, and we really learn to enjoy the hot weather when it comes each year.
Some of us may choose to hole up in houses with the A/C blasting, pretending it's January while the sun beams invitingly outside the windows. Some people just don't like the heat, which is understandable if you're my grandma and the heat is really uncomfortable, or a dog, or a really furry person who overheats easily... However, the bulk of people who live in this area will be outside enjoying the weather if it's 85 degrees or 20 below zero.
It's a summer rite of passage here to jump in our big amazing Great Lake Superior, and just about everyone I know has taken a dip these last two weeks.
This is the lake from the South Shore in Wisconsin near the Brule River. I've taken many an out- of-state friend to this beach on a gorgeous summer day and they cannot believe that a place with a reputation for being so unbearably frosty much of the year can have such a beautiful and (sometimes) temperate beach. This gorgeous lake outskirts a large chunk and borders Minnesota,Wisconsin and Canada. It's really breathtaking during all seasons, and is one of the multitudes of reasons people truly love living here.
For those of us that love to be outside in every season like myself, we find ways to cool off when it's really toasty. Jumping in the lake always works, especially since the Minnesota side of Lake Superior is about 45 degrees until this time in July, where it warms up to about 60 degrees, and is referred to by everyone as "bath water" temp. However, since the ultimate goal is to cool off and not die of hypothermia, this dip in the lake must happen in about a 60 second time span, and once you get out to the hot air,five minutes later you're pretty much sweltering again. So you lay on your towel and warm up, sip some ice water or a beer, then repeat the jumping in process again and again all afternoon.
For those of you without a gigantic , cold beautiful lake in your backyard, the local pool works for keeping cool, as well as hot weather treats, like cold iced tea and popsicles. My love for both of these summer treats got me thinking last night, what if I combined the two in efforts to make an icy and healthy snack?
I am a baker, and a lover and connoisseur of sweets both big and small. But I know they're not always awesome for you, but that's why they're called "treats". They shouldn't be eaten all the time. However, I am always striving for ways to make gnoshing on sweet treats a healthier affair,and it's too darn hot to crank the oven on this week anyhow. So here's a recipe for a delicious and easy popsicle I came up with that contains all superfoods that are both delicious and amazing for you:
Pomegranate Green Tea Popsicles
- 1 cup Pomegranate Juice ( preferably pomegranate with cherry juice)
-1 cup brewed jasmine green tea, cooled
-1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
-1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
-1/2 cup grape juice
-zest of one lemon
- juice of one lemon
Directions: Combine all ingredients, freeze for up to 4 hours in popsicle molds or ice cube trays.
The frozen blueberries and raspberries were really good in this popsicle whole, suspended in all their sweet antioxidant-filled glory in the tea and pomegranate juice. As long as you use good quality ingredients this is an incredibly healthy recipe.
They turned out a lovely dark purple color, and were really delicious! A easy to make snack that's healthy, tasty and refreshing? Triple win as far as I'm concerned!!
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