A ll things cool and refreshing are as welcome as anything to those who endure sizzling summer months. From frozen cocktails for adults to cherry-topped sundaes for the rest of your gang, from A/C in car trips to the briskness of pool dips, simple pleasures that help us literally chill out are most desirable when humidity peaks.

When life gives you a lemon of a forecast, you should in fact make lemonade.

Weather that’s tropical is for the moment topical, and beating the heat can be easily accomplished with a classic family activity.

Making popsicles. Whether store-bought or homemade creation, these sweet treats are at the helm of what summer’s sticky, drippy, cool and refreshing memories are made of.

They’re as akin to July as fireworks and watermelon slices, and these frozen bites can be appreciated by all ages. I should know; I still get that same Pavlovian drool at my age each time the tune of Scott Joplin’s ‘Entertainer’ fades in and out from a distant street, signaling that the ice cream truck is near. Although our family always keeps a frozen stash of store-bought popsicles all summer– nay– year long, we also enjoy the sweet satisfaction of making our own treats rife with clean, wholesome ingredients that are a cost-savings too. Fabulous! Making frozen pops with popsicle molds is a blast for children, who can appreciate the opportunity to bring out their messy side.

Popsicle molds are easy to find throughout just about any medley of stores and prices, in several shapes and sizes.

Along with your children, fill the molds with yogurts, blended ripened fresh fruits, or even pudding to create a variety of frozen fruit bars, creamsicles, fudgsicles, and yogurt pops. The possibilities and combinations are endless. Get creative, and get your hands sticky as you load in dollop after dollop of soon-to-be-frozen confection into the tubes like a reverse volcanic effect. Layer the flavors; experiment, but remember to leave a half inch space at the top so your mixture can expand as it freezes.

Making fruit-juice-only pops? For a less icy effect as a result, add corn syrup or sugar to ‘soften’ the treat.

When your molds are filled, here comes the most difficult step – pop them in the freezer, and wait.

If it’s a sweltering day, jump in the pool or lounge A/C-side. These pops won’t be ready for a few hours. Sacrifices, sacrifices. But how they’re worth the wait.

Unlike homemade ice cream, homemade popsicles are ridiculously simple to make.

And you can guarantee this is the only column I’ll ever write in which I’m wildly giddy about talking about mold.

So bring more sweetness to your home for a summery treat– any time of year– and start freezing this delicious, hearty goodness.

Stay cool.

— Michelle Cote is the art director of the Journal Tribune and a nationally-syndicated columnist. She enjoys cooking, baking, and living room dance-offs with her husband, two boys and a dog. She can be contacted at mcote@journaltribune.com.