I adore frozen treats…Popsicles, freeze pops, snow cones…I love them all! A simple pleasure is definitely an icy pop on a hot summer day! Today’s Friday field trip is to Lil’ Pop Shop…a ‘cool’ store in Philadelphia that creates ice pops from natural ingredients.

The shop also has a food truck, and because I have a dream of creating and running a food truck myself someday, I always enjoying checking out food trucks that sell food I would be proud to serve myself. The Lil’ Pop Shop in Philadelphia has one of these trucks. Hand-crafted in small batches using seasonal ingredients, the ice pops are sold in the shop and from the truck that travels the Philly streets.

A Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie ice pop from Lil’ Pop Shop in Philadelphia.

Lil’ Pop Shop owner Jeanne Chang, trained as a pastry chef at the Culinary Institute of America, comes up with inventive ice pop flavor combinations that truly appeal to me.

Some of the flavors?

To name a few… Red Hot Mango & Chile Pepper, Earl Grey with Vanilla Bean & Black Pepper, Chocolate with Salted Caramel Brownie, Raspberry Lemonade, Pineapple Basil, Vietnamese Ice Coffee, Green Tea with Mochi, and Goat Cheese with Black Raspberries & Honey.

On my last visit, Creamy Sweet & Salty Summer Corn was just added as a seasonal selection.

Goat Cheese, Black Raspberry & Honey Ice Pop from Lil’ Pop

Shop in Philadelphia.

Would you like to try making your own unique flavored ice pops? You can start with this recipe, courtesy of Jeanne Chang at the Lil’ Pop Shop:

Avocado Coconut Pops

• ½ cup coconut milk
• ¾ cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 small, ripe avocados
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• Pinch of salt

Bring water and sugar to a boil in small saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature. Cut and remove pits from avocados. Combine sugar-water mixture, coconut milk, lemon juice, salt and avocados in blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

Use mixture in your preferred molds. Freeze until solid. To unmold pops, dip the mold into warm water for a few seconds. Each recipe makes 8 to 10 pops, depending on your mold.

Try creating some unique flavor combinations of your own this summer! Don’t be restricted by traditional flavors…I am planning on experimenting with some farmer’s market purchases! Do you know what Popsicle lists as their best-selling flavor? Cherry. Sounds pretty boring to me. ;)

Thanks for visiting! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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