Virtually Homemade: Melon Mint Popsicles

Melon Mint Popsicles

A homemade sweet melon popsicle made with fresh cantaloupe and a refreshing touch of lime and mint.

Servings: 6 - 12 popsicles depending on mold size

Ingredients

1 3 ½ lb. melon cut in chunks, approximately 4 cups

¼ cup superfine sugar

¼ cup of water

½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint

Directions

1. Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan until sugar melts. Set aside.

2. Place half the melon in the blender and puree. Add lime juice and sugar syrup (simple syrup). Blend until smooth. Add the rest of the melon and mint, blend again until smooth.

3. Poor liquid into popsicle holders (I used Dixie cups). Freeze for approximately 1 hour and then place sticks in center of pop and continue freezing for a few hours (2-6 hours).

Summer has finally arrived in San Diego. Let me explain – San Diego is beautiful all year round, but it’s not summery. During the winter and early spring our average temperature is in the 60’s, and then May hits. It’s called May gray. Need I say more? When the rest of the country is warming up with flowers blooming, our fine city is stuck in a wet shroud of gray that often lasts all morning and blows back in late afternoon. Subsequently, we move into June gloom with the same prevalent weather pattern.

July improves somewhat, but I still usually awaken to gray skies lasting until about 10 am and rolling back in around 6pm. The actual beach may clear out for a couple of hours but it’s a gamble. It’s called our natural air conditioning. However, we are now enjoying August with bright mornings and sunny evenings without a trace of fog along the coast. Extra blankets are removed from beds, fans put in windows and I walk around in bare feet, a tank top and shorts. Finally, beach here I come!

It’s ideal weather to enjoy frozen confections comprised of one of the season’s most exquisite fruit, the melon. On a steamy trip to the Del Mar Farmer’s Market this past Saturday I happened upon a local variety called Tanya Melons. They posses the lovely, pale orange hue of the cantaloupe and the same juicy sweetness with a creamy texture. Perfect for popsicles! The addition of mint (because as I’ve mentioned before it grows like a weed in my backyard, plus I love it) and tart fresh lime make this cold treat really refreshing.