Chilling this Memorial Day Weekend with Summer Sangria Popsicles

While the first official start of summer is not until June 20th this year, most people in the US wait eagerly for Memorial Day weekend as the kick-off for summer.  Tropical beach getaways, weekends in the Hamptons, barbecues, dips in the pool, outdoor happy hours, flip flops, and best of all...summer hours. Oh yes, those companies who have summer hours/summer Fridays are envied by those poor employees who are forced to start their weekends at 5pm vs 2pm on Fridays when the sun is out in full force and calling to you. (Honestly, it's just cruel to not enforce summer Fridays with official legislation!)

So, this Memorial Day weekend, whatever your plans are, keep you and your guests cool with these summer sangria pops filled with juicy, sweet pieces of blackberries, strawberries, peaches, and mangoes.  Soaked overnight in a mixture of good quality vodka and St Germain (a sweet Elderflower liqueur), each little piece of fruit pops a small concentrated amount of liquor on your tongue.  It is delicious and refreshing on a warm, pre-summer afternoon with a hidden kick. So don't let your guests overindulge in these! It may not taste very sweet or strong, but have more than a few and your guests will be giddily dancing the afternoon away.

I love these star-shaped popsicle molds as they bring back a bit of nostalgia with the rocket popsicles I used to have growing up from the neighborhood ice cream truck. Use whatever fruit you might have on hand and enjoy eating.

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend wherever you are!

SUMMER SANGRIA POPSICLES

Makes 10-12 popsicles

INGREDIENTS
1 mango, peeled and cut into small cubes
1 peach, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup strawberries, thinly sliced lengthwise
1/2 cup blackberries, thinly sliced lengthwise
1 1/2 cup vodka (I used Ketel One)
1 cup St Germain
2 cups club soda

DIRECTIONS

1.  In a large pitcher, add fruit, vodka and St Germain.  Allow the fruit to macerate for at least 3 hours if not overnight. Refrigerate until ready to use.

2. Remove pitcher from refrigerator and add club soda.  Stir briefly to mix together.

3.  Carefully pour the liquid into the popsicle mold 3/4 full.  Then, using a spoon carefully add a mixture of fruits until full. Place molds in freezer overnight. 

4.  To remove popsicle from mold, rinse warm water over the mold to release.  Squeeze on sides of the mold gently to work on getting it looser, jiggle carefully and voilá, it's free! Freeze until ready to serve or eat immediately.