basil + lime

We are into popsicles.  I've shared our chocolate pudding pops and strawberry creamsicles with you in the past.  I also make smoothie pops pretty regularly, which don't really need a recipe.  I just mix homemade yogurt, frozen bananas, and whatever berries or other fruit we need to use up in the blender, then freeze in our mold.

My other method involves making a flavored simple syrup and freezing.  You can get really creative on your flavors, since you don't have to worry about what texture the final product will have.  We have a nice big basil plant on the front porch, a gift from my mother-in-law and her massage therapist friend.  It screamed out to me to be combined with some lime juice.  It's sort of a Thai-inspired flavor combination.  Hmm . . . it would probably also be really good in a coconut milk base!

Here's how you do it:

Basil-Lime Popsicles
15 basil leaves
1/3 C sugar
1 C water
peel and juice of two limes

Combine basil leaves with water, sugar and lime peel (you want big pieces of peel so you can strain it out - don't grate it) in a pan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.  Use a wooden spoon to bruise the basil leaves, so you really get all the flavor out.  After 15 minutes, juice the limes into the pan.

Strain it back into the measuring cup.  You should have about a cup of liquid.  Pour into mold, pop in sticks, and freeze.

And enjoy!