Summer Fun!
Feels like Summer! Hot! I am writing this in the middle of the UK heatwave! Now, those two words together are quite a rare phenomenon! Thankfully, my house is cool and inside it feels just like any other day! If you have been struggling with trying to keep your house cool and indeed stay cool yourself – here are a few healthy and tasty ideas for you!
Ice-cream & Ice-Lollies
Most fruits can be frozen and make an excellent base for ice-lollies. Of course, you can mash or blend a single fruit, or a selection of fruits. Then freeze in moulds for perfectly acceptable intense fruity flavours. Alternatively, you can mix fruit with a liquid such as water, juice or milk – coconut milk and oat milk both freeze well. If you are after a bit more creaminess or indulgence, add yogurt or a thick cream – coconut yogurt and oat cream taste really good frozen.
Frozen bananas blended with a bit of milk make a great base for an ice-cream and easily take on other flavours. Textures can be mixed and matched – blend, mash, leave fruit whole, or just stir together.
Extras can be added to make your favourite flavours – peanut butter, a drizzle of syrup, a few chocolate chips or small pieces of dried apricot or coconut, for example.
Pour your lollies into moulds, and your ice-cream into any suitable freezable container. Silicon moulds are great for lollies and spoons can be used if you need extra sticks!
Recipes
Have a look at some of these ideas to get you started:
Plant based ice-cream base recipe
Simple 4 ingredient fruity ice-cream
What you might need?
Hopefully you already have everything you need to make some frozen ices, but in case you’re new to baking and cooking, or just want a refresh, here are a few items you might like. These links will take you straight to Amazon where you can then search as usual for anything you need. If you follow these links, Amazon might pay us a small commission, which goes towards paying the website hosting fees. We’d be very grateful if you do, thank you! Have a look at these: chopping boards, kitchen knives, mixing bowls, lolly moulds, ice-cream bowls, and other items which you might need. Much appreciated!
Serving
Serve your ices or ice-cream in the sunshine! Serve straight as they are or add your favourite toppings. Ice-cream can go in cones, on other desserts, or even in lemonade or coffee! Dip your lollies in melted chocolate and add sprinkles of nuts or coconut. Get creative and mix up your flavours. Most of all, enjoy!!
Storing
Your lollies can be frozen for up to a month and still taste great. Allow to thaw for 5 minutes before removing from the moulds. Ice-cream is best made and eaten immediately as it will turn icy if frozen for too long. You can of course store the ice-cream in the freezer, but be aware the texture will change a lot from freshly made (you will likely need to defrost for 20-30 minutes before eating… in which time you could have made a fresh batch)!
Sharing
I hope you will attempt to make your own ices or ice-cream! Let me know your favourites (unless it is lemon and you will have to try really hard to convince me it is good)!
If you are celebrating Eid today, have the most wonderful day! Here’s the Kulicha recipe for you again!
As always, I love hearing about any recipes of mine you try, any ideas you adapt or suggestions you have for future recipes. Please share and tag me @LifeDietHealth or using #LifeDietHealth on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or X.
Leave me a comment below… I love to chat!
Hope you enjoy making them!
Laurena x
Thankfully our house is like a cave, especially in the kitchen lol (10′ less than outside). We had a ‘Kansas’ fan at our other place but we don’t need it anymore!
Thanks for the ice lolly ideas. I’d actually forgotten about these. You’ve reminded me to use up some lemon squash and PB powder (but not together haha) 🙂
OMGosh I was thinking I know you like lemon but lemon and peanut butter! Lol. Peanut butter lollies sound good though – although we’re in thunderstorm mode now! We had a hail storm yesterday.. complete with lightening!
Same here re thunderstorms, it’s been cosy listening to them at night- safely tucked in bed of course!