Peach and Jalapeno Ice Pops

I love hot pepper jam and this recipe reminded me of just that.  The taste is amazing.  You taste the peachy goodness first then the bite from the jalapeno.  It's not overwhelming at all, but perfectly compliment each other. This recipe was taken from the People's Pops recipe book.

Ingredients

1-1/2 c sugar
1-1/2 c water

1-1/4 c simple syrup
1 jalapeno, sliced thin
5-6 large ripened peaches, halved
2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350*.  Place the peaches cut side down on a baking sheet and bake until skins and flesh are tender, about 20-25 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool.

Now make a simple syrup.  Combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Measure 1-1/4 cups and refrigerate the remainder for another use.  Add the sliced jalapeno and simmer for 6 minutes.  Turn off the heat and let the pepper steep in the simple syrup until cool. Strain the syrup into a small bowl.  Set aside.

Discard the peach pits and whir the roasted peaches in a food processor until you have a puree.  You may leave it a bit chunky but not large chunks as they will become icy.  Transfer to a bowl or pitcher with a spout. Add the simple syrup and the lemon juice and stir until incorporated.

Pour the mixture into ice pop molds, leaving a little bit of space at the top for expansion.  Insert sticks and freeze until solid, about 4-5 hours. Unmold and transfer to plastic bags and return to freezer or serve immediately.

Enjoy!

A Quick Tip to Smooth "Fluffy" Hair and Relieve Itchy Scalp

If you suffer from an itchy scalp and have hair that wants to frizz rather than relax, here is a tip that my wonderful hair stylist shared with me and it really works.  As a bonus, it also helps relieve dry itchy skin on your arms and legs as well.

It's so simple and doesn't require any money, and may even actually save you a few cents over time.

After you shampoo and condition your hair, turn the water as cold as you can stand it and hold your head under the shower head for a minute or two.  If you can stand there much longer than that, it's probably not quite cold enough.  Let the cold water run down over your hair and your body. Each time I take a shower, I try and stand there for a few seconds longer. I think you will be surprised at the results.

I have a long, full head of course hair and a water softener.  However, I am always scratching at my head and my skin.  My hair is always frizzy for the first day or so.  Since my hair is so thick, I only need to wash it every 3 days.

Since I've been turning on the cold water at the end of my showers, my hair is smoother and my skin isn't as itchy.  Why this works?  The cold water closes the pores of your hair shaft and your skin resulting in smoothness.  And because cold and itching sensations travel along the same nerve fibers, cool water can achieve relief from itching.

No products to buy and running the cold water for the last minute or two uses less hot water, which in turn, means a penny or two back in your pocket!

Keep it cool!