Have you had a great summer so far? Can you remember back to your childhood and lazy days when a fan and a popsicle were all you needed to withstand the blazing heat? Or does it seem like a distant memory?

In North Carolina we’ve had a few days recently where the temps have been below normal, a little bit of respite from the sweltering heat of August.

We definitely have our hot weather, but I love my home state even though I feel the mountains calling to me right around now!

However, I know that there is plenty of summer left so I whipped up these Strawberry Smoothie Popsicles to help us last through the worst of it.

Since I definitely prefer cooler weather, this recipe is a peace offering for all those non-summer lovers like me! If you can’t stand the heat ~~get out of the kitchen~~ enjoy it inside with those ceiling fans turned on high.

One of my favorite yard sale purchases (click here for my list of top ten bargains) in the last couple of seasons was a Magic Bullet for $10, a real steal of a deal! It’s a great space saver, and I’ve embraced making smoothies in the morning since I’m not a big breakfast eater. As a fun treat for summer, try my smoothie recipe and pour the liquid into your favorite popsicle mold or ice pop maker.

If you have children, this is a healthier alternative to ice cream or more expensive frozen treats. You can even involve them in the preparation and make a family memory in the process! Buy their favorite fruit and yogurt and let their imaginations soar!

For the featured popsicles, I used strawberries, blueberries and bananas, but you could use any fresh or canned fruit as an option. One of my frugal tips is to freeze bananas whole as they are starting to turn brown, then use them in favorite recipes like chocolate chip banana bread or banana crumb muffins.

For this version I used vanilla yogurt, but a lower-calorie option would be to substitute plain. Buy it in the 36-ounce carton for the best unit price. Use whatever milk you have on hand (my family prefers 2 percent).

The recipe below made four popsicles in my Magic Bullet, but I would definitely double or triple it if I pulled out my larger blender. You can certainly adjust the ingredients below to suit your family’s tastes. Enjoy!