The Great Vitamix Debacle of 12, Bangs, and Hella Hot {InstaFriday}

I've had this machine since April.
No accidents.
A friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook of her "mishap" with a smoothie.
I commented on how this was my worst fear with this machine.
Two hours later this happened.
Unbelievable.



My trips to the Amish are becoming more and more frequent.
I love the simplicity of their life.
Wonder if they'd let me join them?
Yeah, probably not.
I got all of this for $21.
Boom.



I have been a regular popsicle making machine around here lately.
These are our favorite so far.
Coconut Paletas.



My harvest one morning this week.
My corn never grew beyond pitiful size.
But it is my corn.
And I love it.



My sugar babies are almost ripe.
Should be perfect by the Fourth of July.
I planted red and yellow.



Speaking of sugar babies.
He is pretty much mine.
The kids spent the day at my moms and we had an all day date.
Lots of shopping and eating and talking,
Glorious no kids interrupting adults only talking.



Maggie wanted some layers cut into her hair and bangs.
All this was a first for her.
It is beautiful.
But it makes her look three years older and I am not digging that part.



This is my forecast for the next few days.
Satan called...he wants his weather back.

How about you...is it hot where you live?
Are you near the fires in Colorado?
The tropical storm in Florida?





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Paletas {Make Your Own Popsicles}

After eating my weight in these bad boys, I started thinking that maybe I could make my own Popsicles now that I have my new obsession Vitamix.
Plus we just added "make popsicles" to our 2012 Summer List so it was a no brainer.
Popsicle makers we would be.

I read several posts about making your own popsicles, then I ordered this Popsicle maker from Amazon.
Love it.
Worth every penny.
My first goal was to make a whole fruit popsicle.
Sorta like Edy's except with more fruit.
I chopped fresh strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, and seedless watermelon into small bite size chunks.
(I put my pineapple in the Vitamix for a couple of seconds...not necessary though)



I filled each container about 3/4 full with fruit.
Then I filled to the top with fruit juice.
I used Dole Orange Pineapple Banana.
Not exactly as healthy as I was aiming for but it was on hand the day the popsicle maker arrived and well, I'm just impatient like that.
Next time I will be using something less high fructose corn syrup laden artificially sweetened.
Real fruit juice.



Lastly, I added the lid and then the sticks (both come with the maker).
Freeze till solid and....



Voila!
Gorgeous whole fruit Popsicles.

Both my husband and I loved biting into the chunks of frozen fruit.
Our kids...not so much.
That's cool.
More for us.
I promised them that next time I will put all the fruit in the Vitamix and blend well before freezing.



My second favorite Edy's popsicle is the Coconut flavor.
So I made made my own.
I'm feeling pretty powerful with this little freezing machine.

Coconut Paletas:
2 cups Coconut Milk (I found Light Coconut Milk in a can at Kroger)
2 cups skim milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2-1 cup sweetened coconut shredded (depends on how much you like coconut...I personally used a whole cup)

Mix ingredients well and fill popsicle maker.
Add the lid and sticks.
Place in freezer till frozen.

Tip:
Soak your popsicle sticks in warm water while making your popsicles. This will weigh them down and prevent them from floating up when you stick them in your popsicle maker.



Oh. My. Gracious.
Sinful.
Like drinking a bottle of Hawaiian Tropic.
Yes, I've considered it.

Have you smelled that stuff?!?

With your very own popsicle maker, you can say so long to ingredients like "Citric Acid, Corn Syrup, Guar Gum, Carob Bean Gum, and Soy Lecithin."
Gross.
You will know every single ingredient that goes into them.

There are so many variations of popsicles that can be made when making your own.
The possibilities truly are endless.
I have an entire board on Pinterest just for pinning popsicle recipes.

You can also visit Kelly at "The Nourishing Home" and receive her free e-book on Healthy Ice Pops and Frozen Treats.
All you need to do is subscribe to her blog.
Trust me, you are gonna be much obliged.
Fabulous healthy content.

How about you?

Do you make your own popsicles?

Have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?

Feel free to do so in the comments.

Skip to My Lou's "Made By You Monday"
A Lettered Life "Tasty Tuesdays"

"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"