When was the last time you threw a really nice, really intimate dinner party?

I’m talking about:
a.) No kids
b.) 6 guests tops (8 in all, including you and your S.O.)
c.) A nicely set table (candles, cloth napkins, music, etc.) and fantastic food (of course)

Why, you ask?

Because Mama came up with a delicious recipe that I’m just dying for you to make and serve at your soirée: An Iced Watermelon Basil Palate Cleanser.

A… palate… what?

A palate cleanser, silly. You know, one of those fancy-do things the French serve in between courses during a meal… like sorbet. A palate cleanser helps remove any lingering flavors in the mouth, so the next course can be better appreciated.

Ahem.

Okay, okay. You don’t HAVE to have a dinner party to whip up these savory Watermelon & Basil Ice Pops (if you’re not going to play into my highfalutin entertaining fantasy, lets just call the recipe what it really is… a savory popsicle.).

And if you add a splash of vodka, you’ve got a great pre-dinner party POPTAIL!

*The good folks at Dexas sent me the 100% Silicone Cube Ice Tray Packet that I used to make the pops. One packet comes with two dishwasher-safe trays that make 18 pops, perfect for this recipe. Because the trays are silicone, whatever you freeze easily pops out. And, as you can see (below the recipe), like a lot of the cool kitchen stuff from Dexas, the trays come in some fabuloso colors and you can order them online! 

Watermelon & Basil Pops

prep: 20 minutes
freeze: about 3 hours (or longer, depending on your freezer)

you’ll need….
4    cups (about 1 ½ lbs.) seedless watermelon, rind removed, cut into 1-inch pieces
2    teaspoons sugar
2    Tablespoons finely minced fresh basil (do not use dry!)
2    teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
½  teaspoon lemon juice
¼  teaspoon salt
4-inch wooden/bamboo skewers

let’s get to it…
Blend the watermelon and sugar until smooth.
Stir in the basil, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt.
Pour the mixture into the cubed trays. Freeze for 1 ½ hours. Insert skewers into middle of each cube. (If skewers don’t stand up on their own, freeze a little longer and try again).

cooking know how:
If you can’t find 4-inch skewers, cut regular long wooden/bamboo skewers into 4-inch pieces. Do not use toothpicks. They are too flimsy and will break.

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