Lemon Verbena Gimlet

One of the luxuries of my job is having access to a beautiful and lively herb garden that is almost all mine.  Herbs make everything taste brighter and are packed full of nutrients, sneaking vitamins into every bite, so cooking with them feels like cheating.  Since the doomed cucumber and squash plants on our deck are in a tragic battle with the single deer that sneaks through our forest and devours any whisper of a sprout, leaf or shoot, I get my harvesting kicks at work.   The satisfaction of plucking a few sprigs of this and that to be used in this or that is one of my greatest joys.  SO hunter and gatherer chic.  Not to mention cost effective.

Right now my garden is overflowing with mint, pineapple sage, tarragon, fennel, chives, oregano and sorrel.  Soon basil and parsley will join the party.  All are going strong, but it is the lemon verbena that caught my attention this week.  It is delicate and floral with a distinct but soft lemony scent and flavor.  It's soothing.  Although often used in teas and dressings, I am more prone to using it for infusing creams and simple syrups to add to something sweet.  Here I used it to make a pretty little ice cream paired with honey-stewed figs, which is a dream of a dessert.

Perhaps it's the gorgeous weather we've been enjoying in Sonoma, or maybe it's Daniel's enthusiasm for the Stanley Cup Finals (go Kings!).  Either way, I have been in a celebratory cocktail kinda mood.  This lemon verbena needed some gin.

These ratios are based on my preference for a less sweet cocktail.  Feel free to up the lemon verbena simple syrup and cut back on the gin if desired.   But, why?

LEMON VERBENA GIMLET
serves one

2.5 oz gin (I used Beefeater for a mild, clean taste, but Hendrick's is a fine choice)
.75 oz lemon verbena simple syrup
.75 oz fresh lime juice
lemon verbena sprig, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients.  Shake until very cold and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with a sprig of lemon verbena.  

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LEMON VERBENA SIMPLE SYRUP

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup lemon verbena leaves

Bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.  Add lemon verbena and simmer gently for about 10 minutes.  Let cool and strain, discarding lemon verbena.  Can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 month. 

Other uses - add to soda water for a lemon verbena spritzer, sweeten mint tea, drizzle on peaches before grilling, lemon verbena sorbet

Ficus Carica, The Common Fig

Incredibly, I find myself having again neglected this medium during the warm, lazy summer months (and a few more) only to be inspired, again, by the common fig.  I know what I love about this fruit - that it can be simultaneously sweet and savory, its fragility in texture and taste, that soft skin.  A fig can be so sexy and yet so damn dumpy, all at the same time.  Like an aging opera signer who can still hit every high note.

The Buddha, it is somehow consoling to know, in the search for perfect understanding, sat in meditation beneath a fig - a bo - tree.

I've discovered two very large secret fig trees and all of the fruit is for me and the birds, who certainly have had their fair share.  In just about ten minutes I managed to pick nearly 6 1/2 pounds of luscious, gorgeously ripe figs, which I brought home to preserve, roast, slice - to devour in every which way.

At first I simply binged on figs.  Just fresh figs.  I picked out the ripest of the ripest and couldn't help but eat handful after handful.  Every time I bit into a green fig and saw that hot pink interior, I had to eat another, just to make sure it was as dazzling as the last.  Although it probably cannot be helped, I would not necessarily recommend this - your belly will thank me - and besides, when you add just a touch of heat to a ripe fig it transforms into one of nature's sweetest edibles.

The recipes for figs are endless, and I shan't wax on too long.  But to begin, start simply. 

BROILED FIGS

fresh, ripe figs, cut in half
honey

Drizzle honey over figs and broil for about 15 minutes, or until figs are starting to bubble and are heated through.  Serve with yogurt, whipped cream, mascarpone, or ice cream.  They are particularly tasty with Strawberry or Lemon Verbena Ice Cream, below. 

LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM
adapted from David Lebovitz 

1 1/2 cups loosely packed lemon verbena leaves 
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 egg yolks

In a medium saucepan, warm the milk, 1/2 cup cream, sugar, salt, and lemon verbena leaves.  Do not bring to a boil!

Once warm, remove from heat and let steep for at least an hour. 

To make custard, pour remaining cream into a large bowl set atop a bowl of ice water.  

Remove the lemon verbena leaves and discard.  Rewarm the infused milk-cream mixture.  In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks and very slowly, whisking constantly, add the warm infusion.  Return the  mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring continuously until the custard coats the back of a wooden spoon.  It should be thick enough that you can run your finger through it, leaving a trail.  

Immediately strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into the cold cream.  Stir until cool.  

Chill thoroughly - overnight is best - and then process in your ice cream maker.