Cocktails on a stick? Just what the doctor ordered when the heat is on. Tequila Sunrise, Mulled Wine Granita, Mexican Shandy, Blueberry Julep are just a few of the inspiring recipes in Laura Fye’s Poptails, a brand new book packed with cool recipes for popsicles, ices and slushes – all with a cheeky adult kick. Try these out. You may never want to drink your cocktails from a glass ever again.
Keep cool with a PoptailPassion Fruit Margarita
Makes 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Freezing time: 6 hours
Ingredients:
125g superfine sugar
Grated zest of 1 lime
125ml passion fruit pulp (about 6 passion fruit)
75ml lime juice
2 tablespoons tequila
1 tablespoon Cointreau
Method:
Place the sugar and lime zest in a small saucepan with 250ml water. Slowly bring to the boil, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Let bubble for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
Stir in the remaining ingredients and pour into four popsicle moulds.
Place the moulds in the freezer. After 3 hours give each one a gentle stir to distribute the passion fruit seeds and insert the popsicle sticks. Return to the freezer for an additional 3 hours until frozen solid.
LAURA FYE’S TIP: “When removing the seeds from the passion fruit, be sure not to lose any of the delicious juice.”
Espresso Martini
Makes 2
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Freezing time: 6 hours
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons superfine sugar
125ml strong espresso, cooled
2 tablespoons gin
Method:
Place the sugar and 4 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Let the sugar dissolve over low heat, then bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour into a cocktail shaker.
Strain the cooled espresso through a fine sieve. Add the gin and espresso to the cocktail shaker and shake well. Pour into two popsicle moulds.
Place the moulds in the freezer. Let set for 2 hours, insert the popsicle sticks and allow to freeze until completely solid (about 4 more hours).
LAURA FYE’S TIP: “It’s nice to serve these as a slush in espresso cups or to make smaller ones as a nice after-dinner treat with coffee.”
Poptails by Laura Fye is priced £8.99, available from all good bookshops. www.octopusbooks.co.uk
The Cocktail Lovers say…
Get all your popsicle-making kit from www.lakeland.co.uk and now that it’s berry season, have a go experimenting with fruit and boozy combinations of your own
This week we’re loving…
Cocktails with views at Aqua Shard. We like the Gin Inspirations section of the menu featuring seven cool new cocktails either with gin or featuring gin botanicals made into bespoke homemade bitters, tinctures, syrups and infusions – delicious stuff!
Aqua Shard, level 31, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY. T: 020 7478 0540. www.aquashard.co.uk
Written for The Independent Dish of the Day blog 25/7/2013
