Oh, where have you gone most coveted popsicle of my youth?
Were our summers too short? Did the neon, orange-colored popsicle muscle you out of every battered corner store freezer?
Did the fudgesicle really win after all?
Maybe I remember you in a fuzzy, perfect summer day vignette that never happened. Maybe my over-active ten year old imagination invented you out of nothingness, only to torture me for the remainder of my sad, Rootbeer popsicle-free adulthood. The nagging questions remain. Where have you gone, and why?
I poll friends from the scattered corners of the country.
“Those were my favorite! My brother and I fought over rootbeer popsicles all the time!”
” Oh my god, do you have any?”
” I haven’t seen those for years!’
I am re-assured. Many of us still mourn the loss of this frosty summer icon. Future generations of hot and dusty children robbed of their own perfect rootbeer popsicle moment.
Precise crystalline structure marries distinctly delicious rootbeer flavor within the covers of a cheap paper wrapper. Even as a kid, I knew they could have done better with that after-thought packaging of theirs. The sad paper wrapping concealed my cherished 50 cent treat ( no, not that bad-boy rapper).
Were you some popsicle inventors mistake? An after-hours popsicle factory love child? Is this why there is no uproar about your disapperance? Why so hush-hush? No matter. I love you just the same. But come back soon darling. Summers’ here, and I miss you more and more.
I will re-invent you like a mad, culinary frankenstein. I will conjure your essence back to me, bite, after perfect bite.
Recipe #1
* 2 cans of Santa Cruz organic rootbeer (it’s clear, I was shocked!)
* 1 T. Rootbeer tea mix
Method
* boil in a medium sized saucepan, until reduced by half.
* strain, cool, set aside.
* fill yer popsicle molds! place carefully in your freezer.
voila.
Recipe #2
You will need a small bottle of rootbeer concentrate. I found mine at a brew shop on a dusty shelf in the very corner of the store, which only fueled my rootbeer popsicle conspiracy theory.
* 1 T. of rootbeer concentrate
* 1 cup of your finest white sugar
* 3 cups of boiled water ( put the kettle on !)
Method
Mix all ingredients until the sugar has dissolved nicely. Set aside to cool.
Fill those popsicle molds with tasty rootbeer goodness! Into the freezer they go.
Swoon with delight on the next scorching hot day, as you bite into your very own
rootbeer popsicle creation, which won’t be the same as your childhood one, but it
will be close. Damn close.
