N-ice stuff to make to keep your kids cool

Helping out in the kitchen is something my children really like to get involved in. They can often be found sat cross- legged on the kitchen counter chopping and stirring. Involving them in the kitchen from a young age has encouraged them to eat and try a wide range of different foods, which is just great.

Now the British strawberry season has started and strawberries are cheaper we've been having a great time in the kitchen making lots of juicy frozen treats. They're simple to make and a great way to get your child eating more fruit whilst keeping them cool on hot days.

Strawberry and raspberry lollies

• 500g mixture of strawberries and raspberries
• 2-3 tbs icing sugar
• lolly moulds

Firstly get your children to pull out the stalks and wash the fruit. Then tip all the fruit into a blender and whizz to a smooth puree. Add the icing sugar one tablespoon at a time and mix until the puree is nice and sweet. Simply pour the puree into the lolly moulds and freeze.

Strawberry ice-cream

• 500g strawberries
• 2-3 tbs icing sugar
• 600ml double cream

As with the lollies, get your children to pull out the stalks and wash the fruit. Whizz the strawberries into a smooth puree, adding the icing sugar gradually until the puree is sweet. Next tip the double cream into the food processor with the strawberry puree and mix until completely combined. Simply pour the mixture into an air-tight container and place into the freezer. Take the ice-cream from the freezer every 40 minutes and thoroughly mix to break up any ice-crystals. This step needs repeating six times before allowing the ice-cream to freeze completely.

These juicy delicious treats can be made with any combination of summer fruits:

• strawberry
• raspberry
• blackcurrant
• redcurrant
• blackberry
• blueberry

Having made these frozen desserts lots of times with my children I can offer the following tips:

• Remember that you can often buy berries much more cheaply at 'pick your own' fruit farms. My children love to go fruit picking in the summer and it's a lovely way to spend a morning and keep children busy. The Pick your Own Farms website offers regional farm listings. 
• The cheapest place I've found to buy lolly moulds is IKEA or you could always make your own using small plastic cups and lolly sticks.
• Always start off with a lot more berries than you need as children can't resist eating huge amounts before they make it into the blender.
• Make plenty of lollies, your children will love them.
• To avoid arguments... never underestimate the importance of remembering whose turn it is to switch on the blender!

Do you have any icy summer recipes to share?