Brain Food: Summer Popsicles All this talk of brain freeze has us craving popsicles! Check out these recipes to satisfy your need for a sweet frozen treat. And as a bonus, they’re all healthy. So healthy, in fact, that you might even be able to sneak in a few green things! Vegan Black Bean Fudge Pops Photo: Flickr/thecraftykitty Unlike the store bought Fudgesicle, these babies boast a healthful amount of fiber. The recipe, which comes from Kathy Hester’s “The Great Vegan Bean Book,” is soy-free, gluten-free oil-free all thanks to it’s main ingredient, which is — you guessed it — black beans. Recipe Courtesy Kathy Hester. Black Bean Fudgesicles From Kathy Hester’s “The Great Vegan Bean Book,” copyright 2013.Recipe reprinted with permission from Fair Winds Press. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 can (15 ounces), rinsed and drained 1 can (14 ounces) light coconut milk 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3 tablespoons agave nectar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions: Puree all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. There will be some black flecks from the black bean skins. I think they look like chocolate flecks, but you can strain the mixture through a cheesecloth if you like. Fill your frozen pop molds about seven eighths full of the mixture. Freeze for several hours or overnight before serving. Makes 6 large pops. Dark Chocolate Frozen Kiwi Pops Photo: Bare Feet In The Kitchen These are beautiful, smart and healthy. Recipe Courtesy Bare Feet in the Kitchen. Chocolate Covered Kiwi Popsicles Ingredients: 6 large kiwis, peeled using this awesome method, cut into 1/3″-1/2″ thick rounds 1 cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup coconut oil popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks Directions: Slice the peeled kiwis into rounds with a lollipop stick in each one. Place on a tray lined with wax paper or parchment. Freeze for at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours. In a glass bowl, melt the chocolate and the coconut oil over a pan of simmering water. You can also melt this in the microwave at no more than 50% power for 15-30 seconds at a time. Dip each frozen kiwi into the melted chocolate. The chocolate will harden within a few moments of being dipped. Eat immediately or re-freeze. – See more at: http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2011/10/chocolate-covered-kiwi-popsicles.html#sthash.6qP1FAGO.dpuf Strawberry Smoothie Popsicles Photo: Chocolate Covered Katie These sweet things hide our favorite superfood leafy green: Kale! Recipe courtesy Chocolate Covered Katie. Strawberry Smoothie Pops Ingredients: 1/2 cup sliced pineapple or mango (or banana) 1/2 cup sliced strawberries 1/3 cup raw kale or spinach (omit if desired) 1/4 cup milk or yogurt of choice 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract sweetener of choice, to taste (amount will depend on your tastebuds and also on what type of milk you use. Remember that the frozen product will be much less sweet. Try 1-2 stevia packets or 1-2 tbsp of a sweetener like pure maple syrup.) Directions: Combine everything in a blender, food processor, or Magic Bullet until super-smooth. Pour into popsicle molds or paper cups, and insert spoons or popsicle sticks. Enjoy! Strawberry Shortcake Greek Yogurt Popsicles Photo: The Kitchen Paper These beautiful creations boast a protein punch that’ll satisfy your hunger as well as your craving for something sweet and creamy. You could even serve them for a cool breakfast on the patio! Recipe Courtesy the Kitchen Paper. Strawberry Shortcake Greek Yogurt Popsicles Ingredients: 1 cup Chobani Non-Fat Vanilla Greek Yogurt ½ cup milk ½ tsp ground vanilla beans ⅓ cup strawberries, chopped ⅓ cup shortcake, crumbled Directions: Mix the yogurt, milk, and ground vanilla beans together until completely smooth. Gently mix in the strawberries and shortcake. Divide among popsicle molds, and place in the freezer. After 1 hour, insert popsicle sticks. Let freeze completely, 3-4 hours. Frozen Fruit Pops Photo: SkinnyTaste It doesn’t get much easier than this: all you need for these frozen delights is fruit and juice. Recipe courtesy Skinny Taste. Frozen Fruit Pops Ingredients: 1/3 cup diced kiwi 1/3 cup diced watermelon 1/3 cup diced strawberries 1/3 cup diced pineapple 1/4 cup fresh pineapple juice or orange juice 5 oz. plastic cups and craft sticks Directions: Combine diced fruit in a bowl and fill each 5 oz cup with fruit. Add 1 tbsp of juice and insert craft sticks into each cup. They easily stay in place because of all the fruit. Place in the freezer a few hours until firm. To remove the pops from the cups, run under warm water a few seconds. Enjoy!