After surviving a Minneapolis heat wave last week - humidity and all - I feel like the Bay Area is never allowed to complain about heat ever again (like that's going to stop me...my face melted off into cobbler today). The Airbnb I booked for Lucas, Zoella, and my mom said it had "AC units and fans fans fans to keep it tolerable on the hottest of days." Let it be known, the sweltering 97°F inside was anything but tolerable. Dear Airbnb host: popsicles might make it tolerable. Highly recommend these hibiscus lemonade popsicles, for example.
I flew to the Midwest for a food blog babe retreat hosted by my friends Amanda of Heartbeet Kitchen and Sherrie of With Food + Love at an amazing lake house MANSION (with lots and lots of AC, mind you). I brought the nursing babe along for milk and snuggles, my husband to take care of the babe, and my mom to take care of the husband. (More on the retreat to come! Did you see the shenanigans on Snapchat? user: snixykitchen).
I booked what seemed like a charming Airbnb nearby for the family. An entire flat belonging to a single dad with a 2 year old daughter, and more importantly: a crib. When we arrived, though, we were smacked in the face with the overwhelming waft of weed. I've lived in Berkeley, I've been to college, I know what weed smells like. Unless a skunk got loose in the second story duplex, the joint smelled like weed (see what I did there?).
So when the host texted me to find out how everything was going, I flat out told him, "Space is great, but it smells like weed. Any ideas?" Without missing a beat - as though he'd rehearsed it - he shot back, "I used some Dr. Bronner's hemp soap to do a little cleaning in there. I'm sure that's it. Give it a day, it should be gone."
C'MON! The skunk excuse would have been more believable! Two dinner guests, a visit from Alanna, and four nights later, the consensus remained: weed. At the end of the trip, the host checked in again, and again we let him know the weed smell didn't dissipate as he anticipated.
Wait for it.
It gets better.
"I'm sorry you don't appreciate the smell of soap!" - This Guy
Still with the soap, dude?! Repeating it doesn't make it more believable to anyone. Except maybe to yourself. Never mind the fact that said soap was no where to be found. Though, to be fair, we never did find the weed either. Moral: don't trust me to book Airbnbs for you.
I'd have dropped the whole thing if he had these hibiscus lemonade popsicles in his freezer when we got there. If you showed up at my house during a heat wave you better believe there'd be popsicles. These showy crimson pops are super simple: homemade hibiscus lemonade made even colder to help you survive the summer heat. They're tart and sweet and tangy and pack a punch as bright as their hue. Take that, heat wave!
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Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup water
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon dried hibiscus
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, from approximately 7 to 8 lemons
- 1½ cups water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare the hibiscus simple syrup. Combine the sugar, water, and dried hibiscus in a small pot and heat until the sugar melts completely and it just begins to boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 10-15 minutes while you squeeze lemons.
- Strain the hibiscus simple syrup, pressing as much liquid from the leaves as possible. Discard the hibiscus.
- Combine the hibiscus syrup, lemon juice, and water in a spouted measuring cup, giving a quick stir to combine.
- Pour the lemonade into 10 popsicle molds. Place the lid over the mold and insert your popsicle sticks as straight at possible.
- Freeze for 4-6 hours, or until frozen solid. For best results, freeze over night.
- To help remove your popsicles from the mold, fill a large bowl with warm water and briefly dunk the bottom part of the mold in the bowl or briefly run the mold under warm water.
Veronica -
No! So the host actually stuck to his ridiculous story about the soap! Next time ask if they will be cleaning the space with hemp smelling cleaner! On another note I want this beautiful ruby color hibiscus popsicles!
Sarah Menanix -
Hahaha hemp soap doesn't smell like weed! In fact, we had that exact soap at the lake house where I was staying and it had no scent at all! Wish I could mail you a popsicle!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen -
Ha ha. Soap! That's priceless. I give him points for trying tho. Lol. Wish we had these vibrant pops on our trip! They would have provided some great relief from the heat!
Sarah Menanix -
I don't think I would have had room to eat them with all the amazing food we ate! But it was sure nice to have when we came home to an un-airconditioned house - a stark contrast from our lake mansion, right?
Lisa -
That is sooooo not hemp soap! Homeboy has got to be joking!
I'm so happy that you ladies had such a good time at the retreat! What a group of amazing women!! <3
Also, please, please, please send these beautiful pops my way. Anything to help me get away from this 100+ degree heat!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha right?? This guy.
I felt Sac this weekend and I'm pretty sure these popsicles would melt on their way out of the freezer. #toohotforpopsicles
Matt -
That is really funny, I'm sure it was the soap :) These pops are absolutely perfect and wish we had a few here today!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! (I'm still feeling crazy and sniffing every soap I find...but there's JUST NO WAY). In related news: a skunk walked by our open windows tonight and I was like, "oh, this is familiar..."
Sheri -
Regardless of the "soap" smell and the nearly unbearable humid heat, I'm glad I was able to be there with you all! These Popsicles would definitely have improved the situation!
Sarah Menanix -
I'll make some popsicles to have on hand when you come next week! Any requests?
Christine -
hahah you mean hemp soap and weed don't smell the same? What a creative answer lol
Sounds like your retreat was a blast! I saw photos on insta and it looks like you guys ate so deliciously :) These popsicles are beauties, I especially love that bright colour. Hibiscus anything, I'm in!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - whodda thunk? The retreat was AMAZING! And completely worth the heat. I would LIVE in that heat if it meant I could live with all those ladies in that house forever...
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
It definitely smells like weed every time I clean my house, I don't know what the big deal is.
Sarah Menanix -
Karen: mother, food blogger, stoner.
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles -
Ohhhhh no. I don't think I could have stayed at that place. That smell makes me nauseous. So sorry to hear you had to go through that! I hope you had a great time here in MN - you got to experience a hot one!! {{Gorgeous popsicles!}}
Sarah Menanix -
ME TOO! What I can't believe is this guy has 60 positive reviews and NO ONE mentions the weed!! It was my first time in MN, and even despite the heat, I loved it - I'm sure it won't be the last!
Aysegul -
Wait, I was crying a minute ago and now I am LOL'ing. Oh how much I love your writing Sarah... :))
I am glad you guys had a fun time. These popsicles are a dream come true in these hot summer days.
XOXO
Sarah Menanix -
That means so much to me! You are so so sweet. Thank you! <3
Tessa | Salted Plains -
WOW. That is hilarious. And awful! Glad you all survived and you ladies had fun! Midwest heat and humidity is no joke and I could use all these beauties at the moment. Love them! <3
Sarah Menanix -
Seriously no joke at all. I thought about blow drying my hair but I thought, "meh, I'd rather melt popsicles over my head instead..." Also: Thank you!!
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire -
Oh my gosh, that's hilarious! Hemp doesn't smell like weed, guy. It just doesn't. But I can't wait to hear about the retreat! In the meantime, I will have to try out these popsicles. I love their gorgeous color!
Sarah Menanix -
Definitely doesn't smell like weed haha. And thank you!!
I've got a recipe in the works to share about the retreat - it'll be coming in the next few weeks!!
Carla -
Oooh, I have retreat envy!! (but not smelly AirBNB envy. Sorry, lucas, momma and Baby Z!) I also have POPSICLE envy. (Just ENVY, I GUESS. I HAVE IT.)
Sarah Menanix -
I have Carla envy. <3
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
I"m LOL at this story, Sarah, but also red in the face! WTH?! So then you, Ma, Lucas, and Zoe had to deal with the weed/soap smell for dayyyys and with the oppressive heat! GaH! I'm certain you'll be leaving a through review on air BnB. No doubt you came home and made popsicles. I could see filling a tub with these and laying in it after said trip. OMGeeee. Love the color of these pops, Sarah and the lemon-hibiscus combo is sublime! Delicious! Looking forward to hearing more about your retreat!
Sarah Menanix -
Woah - a tub full of popsicles sounds AMAZING!! Sigh, I didn't leave a review because he basically threatened me via text and I was worried that if I pissed him off, he would say I broke something and try to come after me for more money... :/
Abra -
Sarah, these are gorgeous! I am mildly obsessed with hibiscus, and will absolutely make these. Maybe with a little bit of tequila for an adult pop ;-)
Sarah Menanix -
Ooo - I like that twist! :)
sue | theviewfromgreatisland -
This is a fabulous combination, but it's the color that takes it over the top!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! I was super nervous that I was going to drip them on the couch while eating them that I ate them right over the sink haha!
Shirley -
How did you get that color ? Also do you pick the hibiscus flower and the leaves too ?
Sarah Menanix -
I used dried hibiscus leaves - not fresh hibiscus flower. Unless you know for sure your fresh hibiscus is chemical free, I wouldn't recommend using them in these popsicles!
The color comes from steeping the hibiscus in the simple syrup. Hope this clears some things up for you!
Tiffani -
Did anyone who actually made the hibiscus popsicle that can provide feedback? Why are there comments about soap? Confused....
Sarah Menanix -
Hi Tiffani! In the personal blog post above the recipe, I wrote a story that involved soap, which explains all the soap comments:) Hope this helps! I'm happy to provide feedback if you've got specific questions.