A frozen apricot pop... and a warm, snuggly apricot kitten.

It's a new day, and I'm bound and determined to finally make it back to exercise today - for the first time in a week.  Flu seems gone (but every time I say so, it seems to return. But this time I mean it.)

Inspired by yesterday's photos of Venice, and by the warm days that have hit Los Angeles lately, I found myself pondering things that are apricot-flavored... and cold.  So I whipped up a batch of apricot frozen yogurt pops to keep me cool and remind me of Italian gelaterias (without the gelateria calories.)

I start with just four different ingredients - 6 apricots, 2 cups of greek yogurt, 2 tb lemon juice and 2 tb sugar.

Wash and chop your apricots.  Toss them in a saucepan on medium,
and cook them with the lemon and sugar for a few until they're more softened.

Blend the mixture in a food processor or blender until smooth.

Add the yogurt, and blend until incorporated.

If there are larger apricot chunks not incorporated, that's OK. No one minds a chunky frozen pop.

At this point, it's important to chill the mixture.  The key to the creamiest possible pops is to go from liquid to solid as quickly as possible. (The quicker the freeze, the smaller the frozen crystals, and the smoother your pop.)  So seal up your mixture and refrigerate, preferably overnight.

Once the mixture has chilled completely, transfer to an ice cream maker
(or if you don't have one, pop molds. The ice cream maker will make for creamier, less-icy pops.)

When the mixture is frozen throughout (mine takes ~20 to 30 minutes), transfer to pop molds (or enjoy as soft serve.)

The trick to filling molds when the mixture is this thick? Tap the bottom
of the mold on the counter until the yogurt fills in the air bubbles.

After the pops have sat in the freezer for at least 4 hours, they are ready to eat.  Run your mold under cool water (not warm) and after a few seconds, it should slide out easily.

Pop! goes the apricot.

All of this work with apricots reminded me that I haven't shared any pictures of our little apricot-colored kitten, Lon, since the weekend we got him!  He's settling in nicely, and loves to play with Greta and Mable until they're all worn out.

Lon napping with Mabel.

Lon napping with Greta. Excuse the bad Blackberry photo,
we couldn't get out of bed or we'd have disturbed the cute.

Mmm, that makes me want a catnap now, myself.  Take care of you today, and snuggle somebody if you can.  See how happy it makes Lon, Greta and Mabel?