“POPS! Icy Treats for Everyone,” by Krystina Castella (Quirk Books, 2012), doesn’t just fill your freezer with some sophisticated tastes and retro treats for summer. All the profit from the sale of the book is donated by Kohl’s Cares to support kids’ heath and education initiatives nationwide. For more information, visit . Susan Clotfelter, The Denver Post
PB and Sesame Raspberry Pops Makes 6 8-ounce pops or 8 6-ounce pops
This sophisticated pop is a surprisingly grown-up presentation of that much-loved peanut butter and jelly combination — and a powerful energy boost. The peanut butter is a good source of protein and monounsaturated fats, while the raspberries are rich in fiber, vitamins C and K, and manganese. Add the sesame seeds and you have a beautiful pop that’s a complex protein, too.
Ingredients
½ cup peanut butter
1 cup plain yogurt1 cup milk
4 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1½ cups raspberries
2 cups raspberry juice
4 tablespoons sesame seeds
Directions
Combine the peanut butter, yogurt, milk, 2 tablespoons of the honey and the vanilla extract in a food processor or blender; process until smooth.
In a spouted cup, combine the raspberries and raspberry juice.
Partially fill popsicle molds with about half the peanut butter mixture. Freeze for at least 1 hour.
Partially fill the molds with the raspberry mixture, using all of it. Insert the sticks. Freeze for at least 1 hour.
Fill the molds with the remaining peanut butter mixture. Freeze for at least 8 hours.
Remove from the freezer; let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before removing the pops from the molds. Spoon some of the honey around the rim of each pop. Sprinkle sesame seeds on the honey to coat. Enjoy peanut butter and jelly flavors in a whole new package!
Variation:
Easy Blended Pops: Reduce the peanut butter to ⅓ cup, reduce the honey and the sesame seeds to 2 tablespoons each, and omit the milk. Blend the peanut butter, yogurt, honey, vanilla extract, raspberries, and raspberry juice together until smooth, then stir in the sesame seeds. Pour into the pop molds. Insert the sticks and freeze for at least 6 hours.
