Cake Alternatives: Popsicles

It's going to be hot hot hot this week in Los Angeles.  Which got me thinking about cool refreshing desserts.  Which got me thinking that wedding guests might really love something besides cake after all that dance floor rocking out on a hot summer afternoon or evening.  (I'm really not tied to the wedding cake idea.) So how about some all-natural, local, farmers-market sourced, seasonal popsicles instead?

photo by Renee Anjanette at Tulino Design Group

Popshop is the brainchild of Emily Zaiden, a Los Angeles local who's always loved playing with frozen dessert flavors.  After overwhelmingly positive response to her mojito and lemon ginger flavors from friends at a 2008 birthday party,  she started experimenting with ethnic-infused palattes, using only fresh, farmer's market ingredients to make her gourmet, vegan, preservative-free popsicles. (Read the full LAist profile on her here.)

She has a booth each week at the Studio City Farmer's Market on Sundays (still my favorite farmer's market around town.  I need to find something comparably great in my neighborhood) and can also arrange for special order deliveries ($48 for 24 pops, often including delivery).

I'm thinking an avocado vanilla, nectarine almond, or mango lime popsicle sounds divine for a hot afternoon wedding. Or for the late night post-alcohol, mid-dance recovery break. Or for this Sunday afternoon, when it's 90 degrees out and I just want something delicious.