POM Banana Ice Pops

I've always heard about the health benefits of Pomegranates and Pomegranate juice.  They have been popping up in all kinds of recipes lately, but somehow I never got around to trying it.  So when the nice people at POM Wonderful sent me a case of their 100% Pure Pomegranate Juice a few weeks ago, I finally got to put it to the test.  This is the first of (so far) three recipes I've made with POM and they have absolutely made a Pomegranate believer out of me!  Granted, straight from the bottle the unsweetened juice leaves much to be desired.  However, after turning it into a syrup, an ice pop, a sorbet a double chocolate brownie (that's right - a brownie!)  I have come to fully appreciate the healthy fruit.  In fact, I can see myself making these recipes over and over again.  

The first recipe I made was POM Banana Freeze, or Pomegranate Banana Ice Pops.  Being the first recipe I was making with POM, I prepared it exactly as it was written on POM's website.  The recipe was super simple and involved just four ingredients.  My formerly non-Pomegranate loving husband was completely won over with these ice pops and already wants me to make more.  

POM Banana Freeze (Ice Pops), from POM Wonderful

Ingredients:

1 Cup POM Wonderful 100% Pure Pomegranate Juice

3 ripe bananas

1 batch simple syrup*

6 plastic cups**

6 plastic spoons

Simple Syrup* = boil 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water together until sugar fully dissolves.  Cool to room temperature.

But Bananas in the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth.  Add in the simple syrup and POM. Process until smooth**.  Divide mixture between the cups and place the cups in a plastic storage container.  Stretch plastic wrap across the top of the plastic storage container and insert plastic spoons through the wrap and into the ice pops.  Freeze until solid.  

**  The POM Website says to divide the mixture between just 4 cups, however, I think I may have food processed mine a bit too much because the mixture became frothy and airy.  This may have caused me to yield more of the mixture because mine created 6 servings, not 4. 

If you are not yet a Pomegranate lover, I suggest you try this recipe.  It will surely make a believer out of you!