Mango Limeade Icy Pops...keep the heat away!

Tragically summer is best known for scorching heat and rising temperatures.  In the city however, those temperatures get magnified and held in by the polution and sheer number of people on the move all the time.  In Oakland, the summer temperatures are suprisingly bearable, however this has resulted in the sadly all to common LACK of any form of air conditioning in most buildings and apartments.  I have the incredible priveledge of a cieling fan, which does wonders in the heat, but most have almost no relief. 

Are there any flavors quite as refreshing as a glass of limeade and a fresh juicy mango?  At the latino fruit market across the street I can aquire a fresh mango & 5 limes for $0.89 cents.  Yet again demonstrating the joy of savvy living in the inner city!  Get your summer cure started around noon, and by the overbearing heat of 5pm, your icy relief will be ready.  So, I give you the Mango Limeade Icy pop! 

(These portions are based entirely on the number and kind of icy pop container you have.  This is set for the average store bought Icy pop trays, but make more or less to your liking.  If you don't have an icy pop tray, use your ice cube tray and popsicle sticks cut in half, or just toothpicks.  It would make great BBQ hors d'oeuvres)

 Ingredients

1 Large Fresh Mango

1-2 Lime

1 Bag of Frozen Chunks of Mango (usually in the frozen fruit section.)

***Optional Sweet Tooth Addition: Simple Syrup or (equal parts sugar & water melted together & cooled) Pictured to the left.

STEPS

1.  Peel the mango gently and scrape all of the meat out into a bowl, scraping as much off the seed and the peel as possible. 

2.  Juice the lime into the bowl with the mango.
3.  Using a fork mash the two ingredients toggether.
4.  Drop severel pieces of the frozen mango chunks into your icy pop tray.
5. Then spoon the Mango lime mixture into the tray, encouraging it to slidedown and around your mango chunks. 

*** At this point you might realize your mixture is too thick and want to dilute it a little in order to make sure it fills your containers.  You have several options.  More lime juice.  Simple Syrup.  or Water.   I reccomend lime juice if you really enjoy tart treats.  I reccomend simple syrup if you have a sweet tooth.  I reccomend water if you are giving this treat to children, the mango is plenty enough sugar for them. 

Pop ur Pops in the freezer for several hours until froozen.  When they are finished run them for 1-2 seconds under some warm water to release them from their container and let the refreshing icy pop do it's job.

Delightful Additions to make this icy pop a BBQ favorite...

1. The Latin Pop:

     Rub some simple syrup on the inside of your icy pop tray and then lightly Sprinkle Lime Salt and chilli on the insides of the containers before you fill them, adding a layer of color, texture and flavor to the outside of your pops. 

 2. Mint Pops:

Rinse a bushel of mint leaves and the spread some simple syrup inside each icy pop tray.  Stick 1-2 whole mint leaves to the sides of your icy pop containers and then fill them.  Adding dimension to your pops and a layer of fresh flavor.  But remind your guests they might not want to eat the mint leaf, just toss it out once it melts off your pop.