The Fourth of July is one of my most favorite holidays. It brings back such great memories of my childhood…heading down in full red, white and blue attire to the Fourth of July parade on Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Perched on my folding lawn chair, I could have sit there happily all day watching the high school band play and seeing all the cars and floats and horses as they passed by. On occasion, I would even see my mom and sister pass by as they walked in the parade with my sister’s Brownie troop.
Nothing beats a parade…well, except the fireworks that I knew would be coming later that evening. I remember me and my sister would always exclaim, “Ooooo”, “Ahhhh,” “Ooooh!” in syncopation with each firework that burst colorfully overhead.
As we got older, if we were lucky, me and my sister would get to do Sparklers, where she (in her true cheerleader fashion) would spell out “Happy 4th of July” or something else patriotic. Frankly, I was happy just watching my sparkler sparkle down to the base and slowly bending into a warped stick of hot metal that I would reluctantly release into a bucket of water. Invariably, by the end of the box of sparklers, as I looked up to my older sister (and because she strong-armed me into doing it her way), I would invariably end up following her lead, creating happy faces and spelling out my name or something silly like that with my sparkler, hoping to finish my creation before the sparkler fun fizzled out.
It’s these memories of family and fun that is really at the heart of the 4th of July. Every day, I am constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to live in this amazing country. It harkens back memories of elementary school, standing in class facing the flag, with my right hand proudly placed over my heart, proclaiming these words:
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
While I don’t know that I fully appreciated these words as a child, I know that it instilled in me a great love for my country and the freedom that we have here.
It is for that reason that I decided to call these popsicles Freedom Pops! It is a reminder of all those who have gone before me who have fought and died for our Country and for our freedom. Freedom is nothing to take for granted and so, if making a popsicle can be a small reminder of that, I’m all for it!
There is nostalgia in these popsicles too. As a youngster, I remember often hearing the faint sound of music in the distance slowly getting closer until I had the realization that it was the ice cream truck that was about to pass by. Eyes wide open, I would make a beeline to my mom or dad to see if I could finagle some change for an ice cream treat. One of my favorite go-tos was the Bomb Pop…a rocket shaped popsicle that would invariably leave my tongue and lips a patriotic red and blue.
In creating Freedom Pops, I give a salute to the old standby. In doing so, I wanted to modernize it a bit by using fresh fruit and reducing the sugar. You can’t cut out all the sugar, though…what’s the fun in that? So to ensure full star-spangled satisfaction, I add the mini white chocolate chips to the blue layer and the base of the popsicle for a little starry-surprise and grand finale to the Popsicle.
Some things never change. I still get dressed up in red, white and blue attire. I still love parades and fireworks…and gathering with friends and family to celebrate the 4th. However, as I get older, I have an even deeper appreciation and love for my country and the freedom with which I have been blessed.I know you’re gonna love these popsicles! Give them a whirl and get your kids involved. It’ll make a nice chilly treat for any 4th of July picnic or BBQ.
Let us know how they turned out…and if you’re one of our readers from another country, we salute you too. Think of some creative substitutes for the raspberries, yogurt and blueberries that will help replicate the colors of your country. Let us all know what you come up with.
God Bless all of you…and may God Bless the United States of America!
Freedom Pops
Ingredients
SO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED IS:
- 1 1/3 cups Frozen Raspberries defrosted
- 1 2/3 cups Vanilla Drinkable Greek Yogurt
- 2 cups Frozen Blueberries defrosted
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- Blue Food Coloring
- 1/4 cup Mini White Chocolate Chips
YOU'LL ALSO NEED:
- Blender (or mini food processor)
- Popsicle Mold
- Popsicle Sticks
- Squeeze Bottle (or glass measuring cups with spout)
- Funnel
- Silicone Spatula
Instructions
Create Red Layer
- Place Raspberries into Food Processor (or Blender). Add Sugar to taste. Blend until a smooth purée.
- Using funnel, transfer purée to Squeeze Bottle (or measuring cup with spout)
- Evenly distribute purée into Popsicle mold (about 3/4 – 1 inch). If you don’t have a mold, you can use paper cups.
- Freeze until solid (about an hour, depending on freezer)
Create White Layer
- Using funnel, pour Drinkable Yogurt into Squeeze Bottle (or measuring cup with spout)
- Evenly distribute yogurt into popsicle mold (about 1 – 1 1/2 inch)
- Place Popsicle Sticks into mold. (Note, if using paper cups, partially freeze the white layer so that the sticks will remain upright)
- Freeze until solid (about an hour, depending on freezer)
Create Blue Layer
- Place Blueberries into Food Processor (or Blender). Add Sugar to taste. Blend until a smooth purée. Note: sometimes, blueberries can look a little purple. If so, add dark blue food coloring to make blue.
- Using funnel, transfer purée to Squeeze Bottle (or measuring cup with spout)
- Evenly distribute purée into Popsicle mold (about 3/4 – 1 inch).
- Place about a teaspoon of Mini White Chocolate Chips on top of the Blue Layer. With a Popsicle Stick, push Mini White Chocolate Chips down into the Blue Layer to create a starry surprise inside the Blue Layer.
- Place another teaspoon of Mini White Chocolate Chips on top of the Blue Layer. Lightly press them so that they are partially submerged into the Blue Layer. Do not submerge all the way as you want to create a Mini White Chocolate Chip base.
- Freeze until solid (about an hour, depending on freezer)
[…] this from the Southern Hemisphere, where it is Summer.) Which, in that case, see this video: Freedom Pops! …and let me say, I hope you’re enjoying the warm, toasty weather while we FREEZE up here in […]