Hi Everyone,
Happy Saturday to you!!! So happy the weekend is here. I plan on doing a little shopping, since I am in desperate need for shorts and t-shirts. I think I own one pair of shorts that actually fit. I have to admit the ones I have are getting a little tight around the hips, but I’m trying hard to get them to fit again. Darn winter comfort food!!! Anyways, since it’s suppose to be blazing hot here, I have a simple recipe that is kind of embarrassing to share. 🙂 I know just about everybody has made these before, but I posting them for you because hey, you never know!
These are my Cranberry Lemonade Popsicle’s. I was trying out the new Cran-Lemonade Drink from Ocean Spray and my first thought was refreshing! Then I thought, I think they stole my idea! Tsk, tsk… lol! But seriously, this is a great drink, it’s only 5 calories for 8 oz, I could drink it all summer and it’s guilt-free and I won’t have to make my own! It has the perfect balance of sweetness and tang without being overwhelming. I think this one is a keeper!! As you know from some past posts, like Pretty in Pink Smoothie, Diet Mixed Berry Smoothie and Christmas Cranberry Smoothie, that I do love my Ocean Spray Cranberry drinks. I decided that this drink would be perfect turned into a popsicle. After all nothing is more refreshing than lemon, when it’s near 100 degrees outside.
I actually got the idea to make these popsicle’s when I was cleaning out my cupboards, and I found my popsicle mold. The sticks were kind of cracked from people trying to pull the popsicle out of the mold, so I came up with these handy-dandy cute little sticks. I used paper straws! I cut my straws down so they would fit in the freezer and so they wouldn’t bend when people were holding their lemony treat. I used raspberries to hold them in place. Worked like a charm!! I get asked all of the time where do you get your straws and I get them everywhere. Target now sells them in the party section, Cost Plus World Market has them right now and even my local grocery store sells them, but they are super expensive there. They want like $7.00 for 20 straws. Even though they are cute, I’m not paying that much for paper straws.
One key-note I must warn you about, don’t pull the straws out of the mold. I ran the mold under warm water until the popsicle released, then gently pulled on the straw. As you can see from the pictures, they came out great and hold up pretty well. I think the straws are so cute and you can use different color straws for whatever color popsicle you were making.
- 2 cups Diet Cran-Lemonade (I used Ocean Spray)
- 24 raspberries, fresh
- 6 Popsicle mold container, 4 oz each mold
- 6 straws
- In each popsicle mold, place 3 raspberries, then pour lemonade over top of raspberries. Place straw or stick into the center of each mold. I used the raspberries to hold the straw in place. Carefully place popsicle mold in the freezer for about 6 to 8 hours or until harden.
- When ready to serve, carefully un-mold popsicles from the mold. You will have to run under the mold warm water for the popsicle to release. Just don't pull on the straw. The popsicle will release and then you can pull from the straw.
- Serve an enjoy!
Right now Ocean Spray is having a little contest on Facebook, it’s called Sun-sational Awards. You nominate someone who makes your day sunny and they could win a trip anywhere in the US. I nominated my friend Andrea. Here’s some scoop about it.
The cranberry cooperative is on a mission to find and celebrate a person whose selfless attitude and giving spirit is making his/her community better. Your readers can head to Ocean Spray’s Facebook page to nominate a friend, relative or community member for the chance to give (and receive for themselves!) a sun-sational summer getaway, compliments of Ocean Spray and JetBlue.
Nominations should be at least 200 words, but no more than 500. Photos and video are welcome but not required. Important contest dates for your readers are:
- May 20 – June 7: Nominations open at https://www.facebook.com/oceanspray/app_142075922646915
- June 7: Submission deadline
- June 28: Finalists announced; video profiles featured on Facebook
- June 28 – July 11: Fan voting
- July 12: Grand prize winner announced; winner (and nominator) receive sunny getaway anywhere in the continental U.S. (see Official Rules for complete details)
So hurry and enter that person who brings sunshine to your life now. Deadlines are coming up fast!!! Who are you going to nominate??
I have something so funny to share with you. My friend was at the gym and they had an infomercial on the tv for Eggs on a Stick. Yes, eggs on a stick. We of course googled it and it is disgusting, yet I want one. Not to eat, but to flick at someone. Yes, flick a person. You can yell at someone, get made and flick an egg on a stick at them. You can take it in your car and if someone cuts you off and you can flick an egg on a stick at them. Then they would say “gross, they flicked an egg on a stick at me”. I have the site here, with the commercial. You have to see it. It’s so gross, yet funny. I sent the link to my Husband at his work and he said, please don’t tell me you got one to giveaway on your blog. he he, I said no. He told me the commercial made him a little sick, especially when the girl went to eat the egg on the stick. You have to see the commercial. Who thinks of this stuff?
http://geekologie.com/2013/03/already-ordered-rollie-the-egg-on-a-stic.php
On other news, I don’t know if you noticed but my recipe page has changed. I had Erin from Wooden Spoons Kitchen change my page for me to make it more navigational. I love it!!! I am still working on putting the pictures on the recipes. My goal is to have it done by the end of June. It’s a lot of work and I mean a lot of work. I wish I knew this, when I started blogging a year and a half ago. It’s a lot of posts to format, but I’m slowly getting there! Take a look around and let me know what you think. Big thanks to Erin for doing this for me!!! I LOVE IT!!!!
Here is this weeks weekly recap:
Sunday: Mediterranean Pasta Salad – I haven’t had pasta salad in so long and I was really happy to have this salad for a few days. It has even more flavor on days two and three. It’s a great little salad and I love the mini ravioli’s I used in it! This recipe is perfect for summer picnics!!
Monday: Berry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie: If you like thick smoothies and love to have them for breakfast, this is the smoothie for you! It’s so filling and so delish. You can make it the night before and blend it in the morning. It’s chock full of protein and nutrition. I simply love it and have been having them this past week for breakfast. Gets me through to lunch without snacking!
Tuesday: Peanut Butter Cheesecake Dip – I can’t say anything except it is sooooooo good! It’s perfect for dipping fruit in it and as one of my readers mention, it would also be good dipping graham crackers in. If you like peanut butter cheesecake without all of the calories, than this is the dip for you!!
Wednesday: Grilled Tri Tip with Roasted Peppers and Onions – This is one of my favorite kind of meals! A flavorful, low-calorie tri tip served with my favorite vegetables. Of course since I am a sandwich freak, I turned it in the most fabulous sandwich! I love these kind of meals.
Thursday: Garlicky Feta White Bean Dip – I love this dip. When you want savory this is the dip for you. I used it this past week for dipping my carrots and pita bread into. It has so much flavor and is completely guilt-free. It doesn’t contain any oil!
Friday: S’more Frappe – I think this week I have been craving chocolate and this certainly satisfied my cravings. I love to do up my coffee drinks and this is a fun one. Topped with fluff, chocolate and snickerdoodle cookies. Yes please! If you crave a sweet treat, than this is the drink for you! I have been having them for dessert, with decaf coffee! Yum!
Well my Friends, next week I am going a way for a few days, so I will be making my posts short, since I need to make them in advance. I also need to start cooking. Oh and speaking of cooking, you may just get a lot of no bake recipes. It’s suppose to be in the 100’s and one thing I don’t like to do when it’s that hot is turn the stove on. So it’s either no bake or grilling, but even grilling, it’s to hot to stand outside. Ugh!!! I wonder what it will be like at the beach?
Have a great weekend!
Toodles,
Jennifer
P.S. This weeks craving is Cherry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt.
I was contacted by Ocean Spray to ask if I wanted to try their new Cran-Lemonade. All the opinions I share are my own and I was given product to try out.