Mexican Paletas

Ingredients

• 0.8 cup banana ripe mashed
• 1 cup milk 
• 0.3 cup sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

Equipment

• sieve
• blender

Directions

1. Pour paletas mixture (choices follow) equally into 6 juice bar molds (see notes). Attach covers. Insert sticks, leaving 1 1/2 to 2 inches of each exposed. Freeze paletas upright until firm, at least 3 hours or up to 2 weeks.
2. Hold each mold up to the rim under warm running water just until paletas are released from sides of molds, 5 to 15 seconds.
3. Remove covers and pull out paletas.
4. Banana paletas. In a 2-cup glass measure, combine 1 cup milk, 3/4 cup smoothly mashed ripe banana, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 cup sugar; stir until sugar is dissolved (mixture is no longer grainy to taste).
5. Blackberry paletas. In a blender, whirl 2 1/2 cups rinsed, drained blackberries until smooth. Push through a strainer into a 2-cup glass measure; discard residue.
6. Add 1 cup milk and 6 tablespoons sugar to berry pure; stir until sugar is dissolved.
7. Cucumber-chili paletas. In a blender, combine 3 cups 1-inch chunks peeled, seeded cucumber (1 1/2 lb.); 2/3 cup sugar; 1/3 cup lemon juice; and 1 rinsed, stemmed jalapeo chili (1 to 1 1/2 oz.; remove seeds and veins for less heat). Whirl until smooth. Push mixture through a fine strainer set over a 2-cup glass measure; discard residue.
8. Mango paletas. In a blender, combine 2 1/2 cups 1-inch chunks mangoes (from 1 1/2 lb. fruit), 1/4 cup sugar, and 3 tablespoons lime juice; whirl until smooth.
9. Pia colada paletas. In a blender, combine 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup 1-inch chunks fresh or canned pineapple, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract; whirl until smooth.
10. Sour orange paletas. In a 2-cup glass measure, combine 1 1/3 cups orange juice, 1/3 cup lime juice, and 1/4 cup sugar; stir until sugar is dissolved.
11. Strawberry paletas. In a blender, whirl 3 3/4 cups rinsed, hulled strawberries until smooth. Push through a fine strainer into a 2-cup glass measure; discard residue.
12. Add 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to berry pure; stir until sugar is dissolved.