Fr e e ze r t r e at s j u s t r i g h t f o r h o t s u mmer d ay s

On the hot and blistery days of summer, there’s nothing better to cool off one’s insides than a homemade cold treat straight from the freezer or poured directly out of the blender bowl.

This week’s recipes come from the family’s boxes of home-tested ideas for summer treats.

••• Mix Graham wafer crumbs with salt and sugar. Melt butter and pour over crumbs. Pat into a 9x13 inch pan, retaining 1/2 cup for topping.

Slice bananas over the crust. Spread on ice cream. Place in freezer. Melt chocolate chips and butter. Add icing sugar and milk and cook until smooth and thick. Add vanilla and cool. Pour over ice cream and freeze. Whip the cream and spread over chocolate. Sprinkle on remaining crumbs. Return to freezer.

Remove from freezer a few minutes before serving. Makes 24 servings. Cover leftover dessert with a clear wrap and return to freezer.

••• Mix pudding with milk and whip until all lumps are removed. Add softened ice cream and whip again until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds, place sticks in centre and freeze until firm.

To remove from mold, dip quickly in warm water, twist out frozen treat and return rest to freezer. These may be frozen in single serving dishes and thawed slightly before eating with a spoon.

••• Place softened cream cheese in a mixer bowl and beat on low speed. Gradually add honey and blend well until smooth. Stir in undrained fruit. Fold in whipped cream and mix with a spoon. Add marshmallows and mix until well coated.

Spoon mixture into cups and insert wooden sticks into centre of each cup. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. To serve, cut off cups.

••• Place all ingredients in a blender container. Blend until smooth. Fill two medium glasses and serve immediately.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net