Tropical Popsicles

I've come to dread the summer here in Florida. I hate feeling sweaty day and night, forcing me to stay cooped up in the house with the A/C blasting. On those hot, sticky days I crave refreshing and icy treats to help cool me down. Today was one of those days. After coming inside from doing some yard work, I searched the kitchen for something cold. The result was making up this recipe using what we had on hand.

It was a lucky accident that we had both pineapple and mango in the house at the same time. It is mango season here in Florida, so they are plentiful in stores and in gardens. I have learned over the years that it is better to have a friend with a fruit tree rather than owning one yourself. The reason for this is that a mature mango tree can produce 200-300 mangoes a year. That is a lot of mangoes to give away quickly before they turn into a gooey, sludgy mess. Our friend Daniel has a mango tree, and recently gifted us with a beautiful ripe mango. Coincidentally, we had also bought a fresh pineapple at the store that day. Through a stroke of ingenuity, I blended them into a sweet, tropical treat to beat these blistering Florida summer days.

Tropical Popsicles
Yield: about 6 popsicles, or 4 popsicles and one tasty smoothie/mixed drink
Ingredients:
1 small-medium fresh mango, cubed
1 cup fresh pineapple
2/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup unsweeted coconut water
1 teaspoon honey (optional, if additional sweetness is needed)
splash of white rum (optional)

Directions:
For additional instructions on how to cut a mango, please see this erm....instructional video. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for 6 hours. To remove the popsicle from the mold, place the bottom of the mold for a few seconds in lukewarm water until the popsicle releases.

If you are like me and can only make 4 popsicles at a time, you may optionally chill the extra liquid for a delightful drink. You can even add a bit more white rum to your taste, add a cocktail umbrella, and sit outside (preferably by the pool) to enjoy.