Mango Ginger Popsicles

Mango, Ginger Popsicles I have highly sensitive teeth. I could never bite into anything that is sub-zero degrees even when my permanent teeth had newly popped and were probably at their strongest! As a kid, when we got to treat ourselves to kulfis i.e. the Indian street food ice-cream on a stick I’d slowly suck on it while half of it melted in streams down my hands, and invariably the last few bites would drop to the floor. All these years later, my teeth have obviously not become less sensitive; it’s a miracle they are still there after all the sugar attack they endure. As an adult, I stick to ice-creams in bowls (boring? Trying having sensitive teeth!) Watching others bite into popsicles gives me goosebumps! But its #popsicle week and I had to participate, because we want to constantly be part of something, even if it is a virtual summer party exploding with happy, colorful ice-pops. Last summer when I started using Instagram seriously i.e. started using the explore feature and following a bunch of bloggers is when I first heard of popsicle week. We were homeless and moving between Airbnbs and I didn’t have much kitchen equipment or molds. A feeble attempt in the sweltering Kingston heat of 2016, in an AC-less Airbnb yielded some pretty rubbish maple walnut popsicles. So, I stuck with store bought ice-creams. This year, I was determined to make it. I had an idea jotted down weeks in advance – a boozy iced tea popsicle like a long island. But that did not work for me. It was like eating ice and the teeth do not enjoy eating ice. A quick brainstorming session later with my better half who suggested I stick fruit pieces on a stick or something to that effect, we decided to go with mango. Every summer I am remined of eating pureed chilled mango with a hint of cardamom served with puris. Then I kick myself for not eating more mangoes when I was in India, because really the quality and variety here is quite terrible. Can’t stick a piece of not-so-great mango on a stick and call it happy popsicle week, so I added some ginger, coconut milk and honey. Whizzed it and froze it. Simple and quite tasty that is if you like the mango-ginger combination. If you don’t, you should just eat a slice of mango or head to Wit and Vinegar and browse through 100s of popsicle ideas! Mango, Ginger Popsicles Ingredients – makes 6 – 8 skinny popsicles Flesh from 3 ripe medium mangoes ¼ cup of coconut cream / coconut milk 1 ½ - 2 tbsps freshly grated ginger (depending on taste – start with 1 tbsp) ½ tsp cardamom powder 2 – 4 tbsp honey (depending on how sweet the mangoes are) For Garnish ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 2tbsp coconut oil 1tbsp candied ginger 1 tsp granulated sugar coconut flakes To make the popsicles Put all ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. Taste and adjust spice and honey. Pour into molds. Stick the sticks in. Freeze overnight. Melt the chocolate chips with the coconut oil in a heatproof bowl in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Stir well between intervals. Once smooth, set aside to cool slightly. While the chocolate cools, chop up the candied ginger very finely and mix with the sugar. You could also give the two a whiz in a spice grinder. Set aside in a small bowl. Put coconut flakes in another small bowl. Remove popsicles from their molds. Working with one at a time, dip into the melted chocolate, immediately sprinkle with some coconut flakes and some ginger-sugar mixture. Set on a plate. Repeat with all and eat immediately or keep in freezer.

Mango ginger popsicles for mango lovers! These are refined sugar free, dairy free and so so easy to make! I have highly sensitive teeth. I could never bite into anything that is sub-zero degrees even when my permanent teeth had newly popped and were probably at their strongest! As a kid, when we got to treat ourselves to kulfis i.e. the Indian street food ice-cream on a stick I’d slowly suck on it while half of it melted in streams down my hands, and invariably the last few bites would drop to the floor. All these years later, my teeth have obviously not become less sensitive; it’s a miracle they are still there after all the sugar attack they endure. As an adult, I stick to ice-creams in bowls (boring? Trying having sensitive teeth!) Watching others bite into popsicles gives me goosebumps! But its #popsicleweek and I had to participate, because we want to constantly be part of something, even if it is a virtual summer party exploding with happy, colorful ice-pops. Last summer when I started using Instagram seriously i.e. started using the explore feature and following a bunch of bloggers is when I first heard of popsicle week. […]

Continue Reading

Cardamom Coconut Panna Cotta and Turmeric Cake Crumb

cardamom coconut panna cotta

A delightful dessert for two, this light, smooth, cardamom coconut panna cotta is accompanied by crunch from some leftover turmeric cake. I read the Momfuku Milk Bar book and fell inspired by Christina Tosi’s philosophy of using all sorts of things from your pantry and freezer in your baked goods. The idea of repurposing leftovers speaks to me, because I really dislike wasting food. It is one of the main reasons why I bake in small quantities as much as possible and without resorting to using 1/4th of an egg because really the quantity of egg decides how small my baking project will be. Trust me it is a pain to measure out 1 ½ tbsp of egg for something. I have tried. One of the first google searches I did when I was tinkering with the idea of starting a blog was “what do food bloggers do with excess food”, coming in after “how do food bloggers stay fit?” Well I did not find any satisfactory answers to both questions. I suppose everyone tackles it in their own way. So, I picked going small where my baking was concerned. We are two people so I had to think about […]

Continue Reading