The songs du jour at the moment are either School’s Out for Summer, or, Hot in the City.  It is horribly hot in our part of West London, a solid night’s sleep is now a distant memory, although there has been some relief on the odd night with thunder storms and torrential rain, which necessitates hopping out of bed to close all the windows in the flat.
These ice lollies are very refreshing in this heat, and with the addition of a hefty chunk of cucumber in each one start to count towards your 5 (or now 7) a day, and certainly are in line with my healthy eating mantra of “Eat a generous portion of (raw) vegetables with every meal whenever you can”. With cucumbers being a frugal 3 for £1 in the market there is no excuse not to try them. As usual I have used BRITA filter water in these, rather than water straight from the tap, it really does make a noticeable difference to the taste.
The colder a food is the less flavour it will seem to have, so you do need a fair amount of elderflower cordial in these.
If you liked this then you may want to try my Tomato Tea!
Recipe: Cooling Cucumber, Elderflower & Mint Ice Pops
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber – peeled and cut into chunks
- 60 ml elderflower cordial
- 120 ml water
- 3 or 4 mint leaves
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients into a jug blender and whizz until smooth. Pour into ice lolly moulds and pop into the freezer over night.
Post sponsored by BRITA, all opinions our own.
Glamorous Glutton
These look very refreshing. Love the idea of cucumber and mint in this weather. GG
Helen
Super speedy commenting thank you! We are loving them – very refreshing indeed.
Camilla @FabFood4All
Perfect for this weather Helen and I just love the flavours and delicate green colour:-) Must get our ice lolly mould into action!
Helen
Thanks Camilla. So refreshing and also giving a helping hand to my 5 a day.
Sally - My Custard Pie
Very pretty indeed. Currently in a very old cottage with thick walls so beating the heat – but if I wasn’t I’d be reaching for these.
Helen
I would just love to be in a very old cottage with thick walls and to be cool at the moment. I am melting here.
Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)
What a fab recipe Helen. Sadly no freezer here for me in Paris (well, it wouldn’t do the job) so will have to wait until I go home to hot hot Toronto to make these!
Helen
I wish you were coming home via London Mardi! Enjoy them when you do get home.
Jacqueline
I love elderflower Helen and I know I would love these too. Great recipe.
Helen
Thanks so cooling and refreshing!
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet
Very delicate flavours you have there, Helen. Wouldn’t mind having one right now in this unbearable heat!
Helen
Thanks Michelle, they were so refreshing!
Urvashi
Gorgeous! I need one now. So hot in my loft room! I’d sneak a bit of gin into it though x
Helen
An even better idea Urvashi!
Carole Walker
These look really refreshing for when we get some sunshine, added bonus that one of five a day (wonder if a splash of gin would work!!).
Carole Walker
PS no children to worry about in this house!
Helen
thank you Carole, I agree and need to make the gin version.
Kate @ Veggie Desserts
These are my kinda ice pops! Cucumber and elderflower are merry bedfellows and sound sooo great in frozen lollies!
Helen
I thought that they would be right up your street Kate!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
These look so pretty, I bet they’ve gone crazy on Pinterest.
Helen
Sadly not much interest on Pinterest.
Charlotte @CharlotteKDiary
These sound lovely, Helen. I like the fact that the only sweetness comes from the cordial. They sound so refreshing.
Helen
Thank you Charlotte,
We really enjoyed them in the heat wave.
Ursula Hunt
These sound very refreshing
Karen Joanne
Even though it is raining pretty heavily in Manchester, I gave these a go and can confirm they were delicious! A great post-workout cool down.
Helen
I am delighted that you liked them Karen!
Debbie Skerten
ooh these look so refreshing and healthy too xx
Kavey
Lovely, and so refreshing. I love quick power blender recipes too!
Helen
Am so in love with my blender!