Grammy on the Go
By Karen Shadrach
We still have plenty of hot weather remaining as summer winds down. Why not try making your own cool, grandchild-friendly treats? Our Grammy on the Go columnist offers these simple recipes to make (and share) with pint-sized helpers.
Snow Cones
Kids love snow cones. When they were little, the grandkids had a small Snoopy snow cone maker. Of course, it 
produced very small snow cones, and it was difficult to crank out the shaved ice. Now, you can purchase a snow cone maker that will cost around $20, including straws, cups and some brands will even provide their own syrups. I thought it was worth the cost for a summertime worth of treats that you could easily spend five dollars for each at a fair. My Rival machine is very easy to clean and produces a lot of fine, snowy ice with little effort.
You can make your own syrup ahead of time (can chill for up to one month), or let the grandkids decide and help you make their chosen flavor. Simple syrup can be made by mixing ¾ C sugar in ¾ C water and bringing to a boil. Then, add 1 packet of Kool-Aid. Let cool and refrigerate. I have found that the kids also love just plain lemonade, pink lemonade or a sport drink, such as Prime, drizzled over the top.
Popsicles
Popsicles are probably the first thing that comes to mind and the most popular summertime treat. Simple or fancier molds can be purchased and popsicles are easy and inexpensive to make. The quickest way is to pour fruit juice or pre-made lemonade into the molds. Keep it plain, or add additional pieces of whole fruit before freezing.
Fancier popsicles can be made by making your favorite smoothie before pouring it into the molds. These are much more nutritious than store-bought, as you can control the ingredients and no preservatives are added. You can add some spinach or kale into the smoothie mix, which is a sneaky way to get veggies into your grandchild. Our grandkids love yogurt and yogurt popsicles are one of their favorites. Peach popsicles are made with plain vanilla Greek yogurt, orange juice and fresh sliced peaches. Place all in a blender, and pour into the molds. Strawberry ones can be made by blending fresh strawberries, vanilla Greek yogurt, lime juice and honey.
Granitas
If you don’t have Popsicle molds or a snow cone machine at home, you can try another icy concoction, a granita. A granita is an Italian frozen dessert, which can be made with any fruit and is a special treat. Start out with a spoon then drink it down when it melts… refreshing either way! Blend approximately 4 C cubed fruit with ¼ C granulated sugar until it becomes the thickness of a smoothie. Add ¼ C of a flavorful liquid (lemon or lime), something with a bit of acidity that will counteract the sweetness of the fruit. Pour into a shallow pan (9×13) about ½ inch deep, cover with foil and freeze for one hour. After 30 minutes, scrape the partially frozen granita with a fork, repeating 2-3 times over the course of freezing. Freeze again before serving. Enjoy the granita straight up or with whipped cream. Spoon it over yogurt or large slices of watermelon or peaches.
Preparing and enjoying summer treats is a fun activity for you and your grandchildren during this hot season. Stay cool and choose one or more, and enjoy a summertime treat together.
All photos by Karen Shadrach
