pop! goes my summer: sponge bob pops, one-ingredient ice cream and raising a creative kid

This is what life is like when you live with a creative kid:

Over breakfast on a Saturday morning he’ll ask to go to the big art supply store, to “get stuff”. And he will roam the aisles, picking out what seems to be a bunch of random “stuff” – and then come home and create something totally unexpected  and amazing.

When asked if – just maybe – he would be able to think and create “better” if his room were a little less filled with “stuff”, he will answer, “Well maybe it’s the stuff that helps me be creative”.

You will not have a decent response when he looks at his report card and asks you why the subjects that he’s passionate about (and excels in) “don’t count”.

You will want to buy a pony for the teacher who says this at your conference: “Yeah, I have to bring Conor’s attention back every now and then. But I don’t worry, because I know that whatever he’s thinking about is 100x cooler than whatever I’m doing in class”.

Every September you write a note to his new teacher, explaining your “out of the box” kid. That he isn’t deliberately being oppositional – he just approaches problems and questions differently (and pray that, worst case scenario they will at least “get” him, and best case they will actually celebrate his creativity).

You watch him graduate high school – public high school – having matured, grown up and successfully navigated the “traditional” – with great grades, lots of friends and a scholarship to an amazing art school. And kept who he is at his very core alive and intact – and ready to take on the world.

While home for the summer – watching you come up with week after week of popsicles – he suggests a “SpongeBob” pop. More specifically, a minimalist take on the character pops that he and his sister always chose from the ice cream truck when they were little.

And you make them – because of course you do:

spongebob pops

Now, I’m not suggesting that you make these pops (although they were actually quite delicious).

But I AM suggesting that you make the one-ingredient banana ice cream that I used for the top layer.

1-ingredient banana ice cream

Yes, I wanted to do even better than the two-ingredient ice cream from last week. And believe it or not you can, with just a frozen banana, actually make ice cream that has the texture and flavor of the real thing. The fact that it’s dairy- and sugar-free (holla!) – and takes about 5 minutes – makes this a permanent keeper in my kitchen.

banana ice cream

banana ice cream

Recipe below, including how to make these pops.

spongebob pops

You know, in case you’re feeling creative.

One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream
from the Kitchn

1 large ripe banana

Peel and cut the banana into evenly sized discs – freeze for several hours, or overnight. Place pieces in blender or food processor and blend till crumbly. Scrape down the sides. Blend again till mushy; scrape down the sides. Blend again till smooth, with small bits of banana remaining – scrape down the sides. Blend one more time, till it smooths out completely and looks like ice cream (read this post for flavor options). Transfer to a container and freeze overnight.

For “SpongeBob” pops: place banana ice cream in popsicle molds, filling about halfway up. Insert sticks and freeze till solid. Add a layer of vanilla ice cream and freeze it, followed by a layer of chocolate ice cream – freeze overnight.

To release the pops, hold molds briefly under hot water. Add blue M & M “eyes” and red fruit leather “ties”. Freeze till ready to serve.

(print this recipe)


This delicious recipe brought to you by Sheri Silver
https://sherisilver.com/2015/08/20/pop-goes-my-summer-sponge-bob-pops-one-ingredient-ice-cream-and-raising-a-creative-kid/

Need more popsicle “inspiration”? Check out my Popsicles Pinterest board!

4 Comments

  1. Shalagh on August 20, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    Lovely story ! Favorite part is the teacher saying “I know that whatever he’s thinking about is 100x cooler than whatever I’m doing in class”. I have the same boy. And yes, maybe a note would help him.
    Thank you and yum.

  2. Victoria on April 3, 2020 at 4:44 am

    I laughed all through your article…..
    Kids are powerful, innovative and creative…
    Thanks for not squashing his creativity…
    Spongebob pop all the way…
    Thanks for sharing.

    • sherisilver on April 3, 2020 at 10:46 am

      Aw thank you! He graduated from Parsons this past May with a major in Game Design – so proud of him! 🙂

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Hi! I'm Sheri!

Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!