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Sweet Life
Showing posts with label Sweet Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sweet Life. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Fruit 'n Buttermilk Ice Pops + ZOKU Quick Pop Maker Giveaway! {#SummerOfThePopsicle}

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Fruit 'n Buttermilk Ice Pops + ZOKU Quick Pop Maker Giveaway! {#SummerOfThePopsicle}

Fruit 'n Buttermilk Ice Pops + a ZOKU Quick Pop Maker Giveaway {#SummerOfThePopsicle} | www.girlichef.com
You know that feeling that you get when you've worked really long and hard to achieve something, and finally it comes to fruition?   Time, care, precision, and sweat are the things that accomplishment are made of.  They result in a satisfaction that starts from a tiny ember deep-down inside, but eventually radiates from each and every pore.  There's nothing like in the world like it.

Oh wait, yes there is.  It's called the thrill of instant gratification!

That thrill is something that I live for.  It's one of the reasons that I went into food and cooking so many years back.  The look, the sounds, the scents, the mmmmm's and the oooooh's that escape from people as your food is set in front of them?  The murmurs of magnificence and devotion and love.  That is a feeling that is unrivaled.

What am I getting at?
Fruit 'n Buttermilk Ice Pops + a ZOKU Quick Pop Maker Giveaway {#SummerOfThePopsicle} | www.girlichef.com
Well, if you know me (and if you don't, I swear it's true), you know that I'm a bit of a popsicle, ice pop, and paleta fanatic.  I mean, I devote whole (extended) summers to them.  They're cold, refreshing, tasty, and they come in endless variations.  And for the most part, they're quick to make.  The one and only hard part is the waiting.  The time that it takes them to go from liquid to frozen delight.  I mean, we're looking at 4 hours, at least.  Sometimes longer.

But now, with the help of my new ZOKU Quick Pop Maker, I can have one in eager hands less than 10 minutes after I've poured the liquid into the molds.  It's pretty freakin' amazing...and fun to witness, to boot.  It's a little miracle in the quest for instant gratification.

How would you like to the one to experience that thrill?  Picture a sweltering summer day.  The kind of day where the bright heat bends and warps the air before your eyes.  And all that you...your kids...the neighbor kids...want is a cold, icy treat in your hand.  Assuming that you have your ZOKU Quick Pop Maker hanging out in the freezer for just such an emergency, you could walk into the house, and walk back out 15 minutes later with those cold, icy treats in your hand.  People will think you're a mirage.  Until you've encouraged them to lift those treats to their parched lips; encouraged them to take a lick or a bite.

This is where the instant gratification part comes in.  Yeah, it's like that.
Fruit 'n Buttermilk Ice Pops + a ZOKU Quick Pop Maker Giveaway {#SummerOfThePopsicle} | www.girlichef.com
Sounds good, right?  Well, my friend Vianney from Sweet Life and I have teamed up with ZOKU today in hopes of bringing that feeling to you.  Because so far, this summer's been a hot one - and YOU deserve a little taste of instant gratification!

Fruit 'n Buttermilk Ice Pops
by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez
Prep Time: 5 minutes + freezing time
Cook Time: n/a
Keywords: snack dessert vegetarian soy-free low-sodium buttermilk fruit popsicles frozen summer

Ingredients (10 (2.5 oz.) Pops)
  • 2-1/2 cups roughly chopped ripe fruit and/or berries
  • 1-1/2 cups cultured buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup orange blossom honey (or your favorite)
  • big pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Place everything into the jar of a blender and blend until smooth. Taste, add more honey if you don't think that it's sweet enough.

Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours, adding sticks at the correct time for your molds.

notes:
You can use any combination of fruit and berries that you like for these pops. Pictured is strawberry/blackberry. One of my favorite combinations is banana/peach/cranberry. I've also tried kiwi/banana, tropical combo (pineapple/mango/banana), and banana/blueberry. Mix them up and find your favorite!

If you're using a ZOKU Quick Pop Maker, simply pour the mixture into the frozen unit as directed, and wait for 7-9 minutes. Remove as directed, and enjoy.
Fruit 'n Buttermilk Ice Pops + a ZOKU Quick Pop Maker Giveaway {#SummerOfThePopsicle} | www.girlichef.com
So, what is YOUR favorite type of ice pop, popsicle, and/or paleta - and how badly would you like to have one in your hand in less than 10 minutes!?  The awesome team at ZOKU is providing TWO of their Quick Pop Makers, one each for my friend Vianney of Sweet Life and myself to give away!  How awesome is that?

In honor of the Summer of the Popsicle, we are holding our giveaways together...and you have all sorts of chances to win.  Simply complete as many of the entry steps as you wish in the rafflecopter form below (it's the same one on both of our sites).  Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer of the Popsicle 2
I was provided with (one) free ZOKU Quick Pop Maker to use as I pleased. Zoku is also providing the product(s) for the giveaway.  I received no compensation for this post, and all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 
Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Paletas de Fresas con Crema {#SummerOfThePopsicle Guest Post: Sweet Life}

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Paletas de Fresas con Crema {#SummerOfThePopsicle Guest Post: Sweet Life}

It's Wednesday!  It's Wednesday!  Yes, Wednesday is quickly shaping up to be my absolute favorite day of the week.  Each week I eagerly await another popsicle, paleta, or ice pop from one of my ridiculously talented friends - and each week I am rewarded with an icy cold treat to beat the heat that's been weighing me down.  This week, we have mi amiga...my Texan chica...the Queen of Margaritas sharing her beautiful memory-infused paletas with us!

Who's Holding the Stick: Vianney from Sweet Life
Paletas de Fresas con Crema {#SummerOfThePopsicle Guest Post: Sweet Life} | www.girlichef.com
Fresas con Crema is one of the most requested desserts at my house.  Thick, tangy crema drizzled over juicy red strawberries who could resist?  The crema is made with media crema, (half and half) sweetened with powdered sugar or regular sugar.  Some prefer it thin drizzled over the top, some as in I prefer it thick served in a glass, layered with sliced berries.  

When we lived further down South in Edinburg, you could pick up a vaso (glass) of fresas con crema at the local H-E-B before you did your shopping.  At every festival, church event or park you would find vendors selling fresas con crema.  We tried them all.  So we thought.

One day I loaded up the girls and set out to pay the water bill.  The day was a scorcher and I was hopelessly pleading my case that we were already out, why not go ahead and run a few more errands.  They were not having it, it was just too dang hot.  As I drive away from Water Department I spotted a drive-thru convenience store.  You can literally drive your entire vehicle through the metal building and an attendant will walk up, take your order and deliver your goods.  What a treat for this mami!
Paletas de Fresas con Crema {#SummerOfThePopsicle Guest Post: Sweet Life} | www.girlichef.com
Of course I pulled in hoping to find a cool treat to keep the girls happy and I could finish my errands.  And what do I find scrawled in bright red letters as “today’s special?”  Fresas con Crema. SOLD!

I ordered two, paid and we were off. My girl’s content, I thrilled to be able to mark off everything off my to-do list.  Then I heard the squeals… mom, you MUST try the fresas con crema.  Mom, pull over.

And I did.  And I tasted it. And I made a u-turn and drove back to ask for the recipe.

The owner said his mom used crema Mexican, not media crema.  Crema Mexicans is thicker, tangier and is sturdy enough to hold the weight of the berries.  I’ve used crema Mexican ever since to make my fresas con crema and thought it would make a great paleta.  If you cannot find crema Mexican substitute with thick greek yogurt.        

Paletas de Fresas con Crema
Paletas de Fresas con Crema {#SummerOfThePopsicle Guest Post: Sweet Life} | www.girlichef.com
by Vianney Rodriguez from Sweet Life (Guest Post)
Prep Time: 5 minutes (+ time to freeze)
Cook Time: n/a
Keywords: snack dessert vegetarian nut-free soy-free strawberries popsicles American Mexican summer

Ingredients (6 paletas)
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 2 cups crema Mexicana
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 6 Dixie cups
  • 6 Popsicle sticks
Instructions
In a medium bowl whisk together crema Mexicana, milk and powdered sugar.

To each Dixie cup add one slice of strawberry. Add remaining strawberries to crema mixture, stir slowly to combine (try not to mash the berries or the color will bleed into the crema).

Divide the fresas con crema equally between the 6 cups. Freeze for 4-6 hours or until set.

Substitution-
Greek yogurt for crema Mexican
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Thanks Vianney!  You don't know how badly I wish I could reach into the screen and snag one of your beautiful paletas.  While you're busy dreaming of these cold treats, why not head over and pay Vianney a visit at Sweet Life...maybe catch up with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest.

**Also - stay tuned for an awesome #SummerOfThePopsicle giveaway coming up very soon that Vianney and I are hosting together!  You will not want to miss it!**

Summer of the Popsicle 2