Ginger Madras Popsicles

What’s warm, spicy, and annoyingly fibrous? I bet you were thinking of Pickles the Cat. Good guess, but I’m actually talking about ginger. While I personally believe that Mr. Pickles is good for my health, the benefits of ginger are more widely accepted. This knotty little root can help boost immunity, increase circulation, and even reduce inflammation. These popsicles are the perfect treat for ginger lovers!

Ginger loves being played against sweet and sour flavors, so it feels right at home in a madras recipe. The madras cocktail is a blend of cranberry and orange juice probably invented to disguise the taste of vodka for folks who just don’t cotton to the flavor of distilled potatoes. (I know. Weird, right? What’s not to love about fermented potatoes?) Anyway, the classic madras is much improved by the addition of ginger. Now instead of something that is just sweet and sour, you have something sweet, sour, and spicy. Three tastes is a charm. Isn’t that more or less what they say?

Try this recipe over ice with a fat shot of vodka or tequila. Or, for something more family friendly, pop the concoction (sans alcohol) in a popsicle mold and freeze until solid.

Ginger Madras
Makes about 12 ounces, enough for three cocktails or six popsicles

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Ginger Lime Simple Syrup, divided
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 1 lime, zested and juiced
• 1/8 cup vodka or tequila (optional)

Directions

1. Combine 1/4 cup of simple syrup with the orange juice.
2. In a second container, combine the remaining syrup with the cranberry juice.
3. Divide the lime juice and zest (and alcohol, if you are using it) between the two containers of juice.
4. Stir the cranberry juice mixture right before pouring it into the popsicle molds. Fill each mold about halfway.
5. Freeze for two hours, then pour in the orange juice mixture.
   Freeze for four hours, or better yet overnight to allow the pops to become completely hard.

Note:
Try this recipe over ice with a fat shot of vodka or tequila. Or, for something more family friendly, pop the concoction (sans alcohol) in a popsicle mold and freeze until solid.

P.S. Technically, I don’t think that this would be a madras anymore if tequila were added. I suspect that drink has its own name. Anyone know what that might be?