It’s been a hard week here are LJB, Mesa, AZ. It has been the hottest August we have had on record and I have been sick! Here are my new best friends. We have appointments together every morning, every afternoon and every evening. This is how I am surviving. I have never finished a bottle of this in a week, let alone two!

So little Lucy Jane is not sick per se, but has had problems going #2 for most of her life.We met with a specialist this week and so she also has several appointments with meds each day. (poor girl) The doc says that I need to give her more fruits and vegetables and to get creative! Enter Pineapple popsicle. This seemed to be a no brainer to get my kids to eat more fruit. Plus, my kids go through popsicles so fast that I cannot keep my freezer stocked. Rather than feed them high fructose corn syrup and other ingredients I have never heard of, I decided to give popsicle making a try. Mind you, it is still 115 degrees here in Mesa. It may not be this toasty where you are now, but lucky for you, you can add ice to this recipe and make a delicious smoothie for you and your kids. In one bite you get sweet, fresh and herbal flavors, plus a hint of sour and salt. Yum!

Pineapple Ice Pops

• 1 ripe pineapple cut into small chunks (cheat like me and buy the Costco “spears” of pineapple)
• handful of fresh cilantro leaves (I used about 25 actual leaves, no stems!)
• 1/3 c. sugar
• juice of 1/2  lime
• pinch of salt

Put pineapple, cilantro, sugar, lime juice and salt in a blender. Puree until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds, or ice cube trays. (I used ice cube trays and put plastic wrap over ice cube tray and then inserted toothpicks) Freeze for at least 4 hours. Dip molds in warm water to help remove pops.

And my boy Quinn could not wait from them to set….hence, the terrible picture!