All photos by Ray Hydrick...big mouth by Matthew
I bought a new toy and I am quite excited about it! It is a new Zoku popsicle maker. Yes, I know what you are thinking – why would a thirty-year-old man want a popsicle maker. Let me tell you the back story. When the Ray and I went to New Orleans last summer we happened upon the best gourmet popsicles I have ever eaten. One popsicle flavor in particular was the strawberry-basil. Sounds weird but it so works. After doing my research and watching Alton Brown, the key to a good popsicle is freezing the liquid very quickly. Without going into a full “Bill Nye the Science Guy” explanation just know the faster something freezes the smaller the ice crystals and easier to eat. Since I do not own or use liquid nitrogen as a freezing agent I was left with the slowness of my home freezer…which is not fast at all. So when I was perusing through William-Sonoma I saw this little gadget and I was in heaven. You can freeze a well-mixed (very key) popsicle mixture in 7-9 minutes. What?! I know!
I gave you the link to the Zoku site above. They have really helpful hints in perfecting the perfect popsicle. I followed them to the T…well, almost. Since I have never made a popsicle, I needed a little guidance in the proportion of fruit, sugar and liquid to the recipe. Zoku has a blog with really cool (pardon the pun) recipes, one of which made me laugh – Mother’s Little Helper – made with champagne, orange juice and strawberries for color. From this blog I got my ideas and here they are:
- Strawberry, Basil & Lime – made with strawberries, basil and lime (duh!)
- Berry, Berry, Berry Good Popsicle – made with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and Grande Marnier for a kick
- Berry Pop with Chocolate Mint – made with blackberries, raspberries and chocolate mint (yes, there is such a mint. Look at specialty garden stores – the mega home improvement may not have it)
Before you get excited and want to go buy this fabulous do-hicky, you must know that the Zoku maker has to be in the freezer for 24 hours before making popsicles, so plan ahead!
Basil and fruit?! What?!
Strawberry, Basil & Lime
10 ozs strawberries, stems removed
3 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/2 lime, juiced
5 basil leaves, roughly chopped
You better love seeds!
Berry, Berry, Berry Good Popsicle
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup blackberries
3-4 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
1 tablespoon Grande Marnier (optional or use OJ)
Chocolate mint is so good
Berry Pop with Chocolate Mint
1 1/2 cups raspberries
1 1/2 cups blackberries
3-4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon chocolate mint, minced
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon orange juice
All the recipes are prepared the same. Place all ingredients for your popsicle in the blender. Puree till smooth.
I chopped everything for easier blending
It is advised to chill the pureed fruit before putting in the Zoku maker, so I popped mine in the freezer for about 10 minutes. Perfect!
Trifecta of goodness
Place your sticks in the maker, pour your liquid to the fill-line.
Lawd, I shake too much for this.
And wait 9 minutes. They say a watched pot never boils…well, that goes for popsicles freezing as well.
Waiting
Still waiting...please freeze!
Still waiting...playing sudoku waiting on Zoku
So after 9 minutes, use their fancy-dancy tool to help remove the pops, put on the drip cup and enjoy!
As you can see, you can add thin slices of fruit into your popsicle. Cute, I know!
Glass holding jars not included
These pops were delicious! Cold, tart, berry-y. I had my top taste-testers on duty to help…top, meaning the only people around me – Mom & the Ray. After tasting here is our decision:
#1 – Berry Pop with Chocolate Mint – seriously, it was absolutely amazing. Just enough mint to hint the chocolate undertone.
#2 – Berry, Berry, Berry Good Popsicle – we liked the kick the Grand Marnier gave it
#3 – Strawberry Basil – I think I put too much lime (I adjusted the recipe above) and so you couldn’t taste the basil.
Shown in order of yummy-ness from left to right
Summer is upon us and it will be hot this year, battle that heat with some cool (and good for you) popsicles. But if you do try, don’t leave out a little mischief! 😉
P.S. Just a word to the wise, if you are like Josh and hate the seeds of blackberries and raspberries, you need to strain your liquid first before chilling…otherwise, you can walk around that party like this.
Do I have soemthing in my teeth?
Kitchen Mischief! 