Mango Lemonade Popsicles (Only 75 Calories!)

Is anyone else LOVING this weather or what?!

After months of hiding under heavy coats, gloves and scarves, the sun feels magnificent on my bare skin. After the big weight loss compared to last Summer, I enjoyed fitting comfortably into roller coaster seats, shopping for clothing without having to walk to the end of the mall for the big girl store and feeling fabulous in shorts and skirts just slightly above the knee. It's my first Summer of confidence!

Well Summer means enjoying fresh seasonal fruit, and that includes mango. Yes I have an obsession, in part because of its nostalgic power over me, hence the "Silence of the Mangoes" post. But instead of slurping up mangoes with lemon juice my usual way, I decided to make some refreshing mango lemonade popsicles to commemorate my childhood fascination with the tropical fruit. I hadn't seen the recipe before and didn't even bother to look one up. I wanted to create one from the top of my head. Something I take pride in with my blog is taking the time to create recipes from scratch.

Sure I've paid homage to some of my favorite recipes by replicating them in the past, but a goal of mine is to be true to my own maniacal method of food production. Taking what I've learned from culinary school and stints as a line cook along with my own unorthodox way of viewing food. to create dishes that may seem odd and defiant of certain "unwritten culinary rules". But as crazy as combinations of chocolate quinoa and peach, or pineapple artichoke chimichurri may sound, they actually do pair well together. 

So yeah I started rambling and got off track as usual but am excited to share this recipe with you. Now get ready because the gentle sweetness of the mango combined with the mouth puckering tartness of the lemonade pair together surprisingly well. Lick from top to bottom, or bottom to top. Just get the two together for a refreshing flavor that's just as good as having sunshine coming softly through your window.

If you know me, you know I am OBSESSED with the 60's. So of course I hummed along to Sunshine Superman by Donovan while enjoying my tart and tasty treat. I hope you will too!

Extra tidbits:
You can also make mango and lemonade ice cubes to combine with your favorite liquor for a spiked mango lemonade.
Although I layered the mango puree and lemonade, you may choose to combine them and then freeze. 
The condensed version would be to use store bought mango nectar and lemonade. 


Mango Lemonade Popsicles

Nutrition Facts (per popsicle, yields about 8)
75 calories
.1 grams of fat
21 grams of carbs
.7 grams of fiber
.4 grams of protein
106.8 mg of potassium
48% Vitamin C
4.1 % Vitamin A

For this recipe you will need:
1 small pot (for mango puree)
blender
fine mesh strainer
2 bowls (1 bowl for each recipe)
rubber spatula
whisk

Mango Puree
1 mango, peeled, deseeded and small chopped
1 1/2 cups of water
2 tablespoons of honey

In a small pot, place mangoes and water. Bring to a boil for one minute. Turn down heat, let simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from pot, place in a blender with honey. Puree until smooth and strain.


Lemonade
8 lemons, juiced
4 tablespoons of honey
1/4 cup of water

Combine lemon juice, honey and water. Whisk until well combined.

Making the popsicles.
Fill popsicle molds less than half way with mango puree. Freeze for two hours, then fill the rest with lemonade. You may or may not have leftovers of either liquid depending on the size of your popsicle molds. Be creative! (Or just drink up!)