ginger lemonade popsicles

Today is my last day of freedom.  No, I’m not going to jail (all the moms here know what I’m about to say). It’s my daughter’s last day of school before summer vacation.  In a few short hours, I’ll have a 24 hour sidekick (literally. She climbs into bed with us every night!) and things like daily exercise, grown up lunches with swear words and cocktails, and “me time” will be nonexistent before bedtime.  But it also means swimming, sticky ice cream kisses, and not waking up to an alarm. It’s not all bad.  And my captor is easily bribed with sweets.

  Since today is my last day of freedom, and tomorrow is the first day of summer, I’m spending my last few precious hours making some grown up treats, ginger lemonade popsicles. The sidekick/captor will turn her little munchkin nose up at them, but people over 4 feet tall will dig them. They have a serious kick from the ginger syrup, which balances out the sweetness of the lemonade and adds some depth of flavor.  If you want your popsicles a little mellower, don’t use all the syrup and save it for after bedtime cocktails. It’s begging for vodka. 

ginger lemonade popsicles

ingredients:

• 10 oz. (about 3 large pieces) fresh ginger
• 2 c. sugar
• 8 c. water, divided
• 2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice, about 12 lemons

  Peel the ginger and chop into 1/4″ sticks.  Combine ginger, sugar, and 4 cups of water in a a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from stove and strain syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl.  Place bowl in refrigerator to cool.

  While syrup is cooling, squeeze your lemons.  *TIP: you can get more juice from your lemons if you microwave them first.  Put 3 or 4 lemons in the microwave on high for 30 seconds, then roll lemons with your palms hard against the counter top.

  When syrup is cool, combine 1 cup syrup with lemon juice, syrup and remaining 4 cups of water. Gradually add remaining syrup to taste.  Make them a little spicier than you like, since flavor diminishes when frozen. Pour into popsicle molds and place in freezer.  Let freeze for an hour before inserting popsicle sticks.

Makes about 2 dozen popsicles, depending on size of mold.