I’m writing this with a chest full of smoke, sitting at home in front of my desk. The wildfires are the worst they have ever been in Oregon’s recorded history, and our neighborhood is on the border of Level 1 evacuation. The sky is blotted out with smoke, and it has seeped through the cracks of our old home and the smell of fire has permeated everything. As someone whose life is deeply tied to nature, it breaks my heart to see the damage that climate change is doing to my beautiful home state, and all the incredible rural plains and forested landscapes that make this place so special, literally going up in smoke and turning to ash before my eyes.
60% of Oregon is in a severe drought, and things will only get worse if the United States doesn’t course-correct very soon. There are so many things we could do to slow down the effects of climate change, nurture the earth, and restore the balance that’s been lost. But because of the inherent greed (both individual and corporate) within capitalism, and the lack of meaningful legal environmental protections from our government, we are on a path set towards the increasing destruction of our natural world.
We need to elect leaders who truly care about the landscape and the environmental culture within our borders, and will be brave enough to stand up for it and make big and bold changes. Please, register to vote. It takes less than two minutes, and it is more important than ever that you cast your ballot for someone who will make the world better for future generations. 83% of states are allowing mail-in ballots this year, too, but some of them require you to apply for it in advance starting now. You can read a breakdown of the different mail-in ballot + voting options by state here. Definitely google your state’s name and “mail-in ballots” to see what you have to do to make that happen. And remember that the deadline to mail in your ballots is October 28th.
I definitely don’t feel safer or happier than I did 4 years ago, and I doubt many folks do. I know it’s unpopular to get even slightly political on a site about food, but it’s hard to ignore it when it’s literally choking me in my own home. I don’t have the luxury of putting my head in the sand and pretending that everything is just dandy. Because it very much isn’t. Ahem!
So, if you find yourself incredibly wound up and stressed about the world at this late summer season, I have a very simple + soothingly aromatic recipe for this fig and hop simple syrup below. You can buy dried hops very easily online, but if you have them fresh from the vine that works great too. Hops are an herbal flower that has a calming effect on the human body, and they’re often used to brew + flavor IPA beers. But their uses extend much beyond just beer brewing, and include herbal teas and soothing bath salt mixtures. When you combine hops’ herbal floral flavor with fresh juicy figs, it creates an insanely fruit-forward simple syrup that tastes like honeydew melon concentrate. For real, it’s absolutely wild! I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you take action against climate change with your vote this autumn. <3
Fig and Hop Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup hops dried or fresh
- 5 ounces fresh figs quartered
- 16 oz mason jar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
Place the hops and fresh quartered figs in the mason jar and set aside. Heat the water and sugar in a small pot over medium high heat, stirring a few times to help the sugar dissolve.
Once the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar has dissolved, pour the hot syrup into the mason jar with the figs and hops. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for 48 hours.
Strain the syrup, setting aside the figs and hops. Keep the syrup in a mason jar in the refrigerator. You can eat the figs, but they will be very sweet since they've been steeping in syrup. Compost the hops.
The syrup is wonderful in cocktails, in a quick lemonade with some lemon juice and ice water, in iced tea, and iced matcha lattes. It has a delicious honeydew melon flavor to it!
I’m so sorry about the situation in Oregon just now, Eva! Hopefully, you won’t have to evacuate! And, yes, totally agree with you about the political situation and climate change . . . it’s so awful! About the syrup, it sounds like a very interesting recipe and never thought you could use hops mixed with figs (my favorite fruit). I checked and found out hops are gluten-free (hubby has Celiac disease), so I might give it a try if I can find them! Your website is wonderful, with the prettiest photos and excellent recipes! 🙂
Thanks Susy, things are looking better today (Sunday) as the fires are more contained since the winds have died down. There’s possible rain tomorrow night, which would be SUCH a big help. And yay about the hops! You should definitely give it a try, the flavor is so wonderful, not to mention all the positive herbal benefits that hops have to offer <3
I was pointed to this recipe from … somewhere. 1) Thank you for helping me to do something with the hops that are growing like a weed on my side fence. 2) Thank you THANK YOU for taking the time to talk about the importance of voting to an audience of cooking people. There could not be a more important election for the future of our Democracy, and it’s “I have a good heart but I’m not sure I want to engage” people who we need to vote the most! Cooking is caring – and so is voting.
Thanks so much Jessica! I agree 10000%. Food is such an important part of our democracy, from making sure that everyone has access to nutritional foods to ensuring that those growing + harvesting + preparing our foods are paid a living wage.
Your photography is exquisite!
So sorry about your experience with these devastating wildfires. Hoping the election will bring desperately needed change.
Thanks Janna! I hope so too, I’m trying to stay positive and believe in the best in humanity. We’ll see come November…
Totally agree with you, Eva. We , too, were on the fringe of the Level 1 evacuation zone. Love your beautiful spirit and website.
Stay safe and be well.
Thank you so much Karen. So glad you guys are safe and that the rains finally came last night. Hoping the fires are out by the end of October, fingers crossed.
Hello I have been enjoying your adventures in cooking for awhile now. But what made me comment here is I want you to know I know what you are going through in Oregon with your drought and wildfires. I live in a little country town in Australia that you probably have heard of because my little town of Cobargo NSW made news across the world when bushfires destroyed a lot of homes and shops and three people lost their lives in the area around New Years Eve . Many of my friends lost their homes, animals and our beautiful wildlife and forests. We were most know when our PM Scott Morrison tried to shake hands with a young mother and turned his back on her then Danielle while leading a goat told the PM what we all thought of him and he was run out of town. I’m angry at all leaders around the world on their inaction on Climate Change. In solidarity with the people of the West Coast of America let’s all work together to save our world before we go over the tipping point and more communities suffer from devastating fires. Take care Nelia
Hi Neila! One of my best friends here is from the Melbourne area of Australia and I remember her showing me that! She was so glad someone was able to tell him off to his face. It’s absolutely horrible what happened down there, so sorry you guys had to go through that. And same, I’m so frustrated at the lack of action taken against climate change by the leaders of the world. The “leaders” have the financial means to leave any town or area severely impacted by it, but those of us who call these places our homes have no choice. And to watch your home burn to ash…it’s one of the worst feelings in the world. Here’s hoping things change in the coming years…
I’m happy to find a recipe where I can use my fresh hops. Sounds like it will be delightful. The photos on your website are very nicely done..
That said, the political side of your article was just really overwhelming. I had to work my way through it until I got to the main topic. What I’m saying is that the article would’ve been much more enjoyable with all of the great information and photos if it was not inundated with Politics. I understand your points and agree with many of them and you seem to really have a lot to say on this matter. Might I suggest that you develop another website that would really delve into the political world we find ourselves in.
Thank you.