Lemon-mint "fortune popsicles"

Don't have the time or patience to make fortune cookies? Try this cool, refreshing alternative: lemon-mint "fortune popsicles."

It's a perfect summer recipe that the kids can also help you make on a weekend day. It takes about 3 hours total -- an hour for making and cooling the simple syrup and two hours to freeze.

You’ll need:

• popsicle sticks (to write on)

• a pen or pencil

• a popsicle mold or silicone mold

• plastic wrap (I used Press N Seal because that’s what I had in my house)

• a pot

• a glass measuring cup

• sugar

• water

• mint (about 5-8 sprigs)

• green food coloring (optional)

• lemonade (store bought or made at home)

• storage container for fridge (I used a mason jar)

Instructions:

1. Make the simple syrup first: combine 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water and mint sprigs in a pot. Heat on the stove until boiling. Stir. Remove from the heat and cover pot. Let sit until it’s completely cooled down. Discard the mint sprigs.

2. Once that’s cooled down, you have the option to add food coloring. We used green. We mixed 3 drops into the simple syrup (you could mix into your lemonade instead since this will be a lot of simple syrup you might want to use and NOT turn a color).

3. Lay out your popsicle sticks and start writing (use a non-toxic pen or pencil). Make sure it’s to one side of the stick. Keep your message relatively short.

4. Take out your popsicle molds.

5. Mix a cup or two of the lemonade with 1/3 cup of the mint simple syrup (or less).

6. Start pouring into the molds. Leave a half an inch of room at the top.

7. Cover each mold with some plastic wrap.

8. Carefully poke your sticks through the center, message first.

9. Stick in the freezer for at least 2 hours.

10. Pour your leftover simple syrup into a storage container and place in the fridge. It can last for a month in there!

Another option: make the same mixture and then freeze in ice cube trays and add to your beverage of choice!