Blueberry and Banana Popsicles with Greek Yogurt

I am trying to hold on to summer as it is quickly fleeting by. I love this time of year. I love the wonderful mornings, when it is the perfect temperature. I can go on walks and take it all in. I also love coming outside at night and having it be warm. It is also a nice time to enjoy my children who are still at home. It is nice to just savor it all. The happy part about it getting closer to the end of summer is that means it is time to go and pick up our daughter that has been serving an LDS mission for 18 months. I am so very excited to see her. :) It feels like Christmas is coming. So there are always good things to look forward to.
Popsicles are fun to eat all year. When I go to the store it is hard to find popsicles that are healthy--maybe that is an oxymoron? They usually have a lot of additives or a lot of sugar. Well I am here to tell you it is possible to make them healthy. These were smooth and creamy. They came out these cups easily when we ran a little warm water on the bottom. I think I would make them a little smaller next time. The flavor was really great. Popsicles are a fun way to get your family to eat some healthy food too. :)

The Greek yogurt in this adds to the creaminess. I learned some interesting information about Greek Yogurt. The whey is strained out of plain yogurt. You could make your own by straining plain yogurt for a couple hours. Taking the whey out makes it thicker and creamier. Which enhances the flavor. It is a protein powerhouse. It is usually 13-20 grams compared to 5-10 grams in regular yogurt. The sodium is lower vs the regular yogurt. It is usually lower in carbs. around 9 vs. the 15-17 carbs. of regular yogurt. It can be easier to digest since it has less lactose and less carbs. It is lower in sugar content. It has a nice versatility can be used as a substitute for sour cream, mayo, milk, and for baking. It make a nice base for dressings. It also is nice because it is filling. It is beneficial to your intestinal track as well. Plain yogurt is good too. It is a little bit higher in calcium. Either one is a great choice for your diet.

Ingredients: makes 6-8 Popsicle
1 C frozen blueberries
2 T honey
2 ripe mashed bananas
2 C Greek yogurt or plain yogurt (strained for a couple hours to remove the whey)*
9 oz clear cups
6-8 Popsicle sticks
foil


Directions:
1. In a blender pour in yogurt, honey and bananas. Blend until nice and creamy. Pour out have the yogurt mixture into a bowl.

2. Then add blueberries to the remaining yogurt mixture. Blend again until creamy.

3. Then pour into the cups alternating the two mixtures.

4.Place a piece of foil on top and fold around the sides. Stick the Popsicle stick in the middle of the cup.

5. Place in the freezer. I put them in a loaf pan. To keep them steady. Freeze until solid. At least a couple hours.

6. You can rub a warm dish cloth on the outside. or just the heat of your hand on the sides should soften it enough to get it out of the cup. Enjoy! Savor the rest of the Summer! :)

*You could strain plain yogurt with cheese cloth or a coffee filter over a bowl.