Hellbender: Conifer Hot Toddy with Rose Hips and Ginger
The Movie: Hellbender
Category: Folk horror
Running Time: 86 minutes
No Spoilers Blurb: A teen and her mother live simply in a home in the woods, spending their time making metal music. A chance encounter with a fellow teen causes her to uncover a connection between her family and witchcraft, which causes a rift with her mother.
Why I like it
I am a huge fan of horror as a metaphor for women coming-of-age. I mean, I remember being 13 and trauma and horror was around every corner of miserable self discovery. Hellbender features a real life mother and daughter exploring the mother daughter relationship and they do it spectacularly whilst creating a visually stunning film. From IGN,”more than a coming-of-age story, Hellbender is a mother-daughter drama that achieves a balance between both sides. While Izzy understandably searches for friends, identity, and meaning, the nightmare for her mother is not just the fear of losing her little girl to the independence of adulthood, but also being powerless to prevent Izzy from making the same mistakes she did in her impetuous youth.”
The Recipe: Conifer Hot Toddy with Rose Hips and Ginger
Because the women are secluded in the forest, most of the food they eat is foraged fresh. They eat a strictly vegan diet until… And I write dot dot dot as a you know, no spoilers. So for the recipe I turned to the internet to help me research foraging and food and found a great site growforagecookferment.com
I haven’t done a drink yet and since this movie deals with witches I thought that a brew of some sorts would be a nice change to mix things up. And while it’s still blazing hot here in LA we will be eventually moving into autumn and thus your foraging should be in sync with the seasons and this recipe just feels very autumnal to me!
Notes on the Ingredients:
Conifer needles such as pine, fir, Douglas fir, and spruce are helpful for easing a sore throat or cough. Note that while most conifer needles are edible, there are a few to stay away from and one that is highly toxic – Yew. See the post on conifer tree identification for more information.
Rose hips are high in vitamin C and can support the immune system during illness. I also have a rose hip syrup recipe that is helpful.
Honey gives it some sweetness and is also good for a sore throat. Maple syrup can be subbed if you prefer.
Oranges go nicely with the conifer needles and rose hips, but lemons can be used instead if that’s what you have.
Ingredients:
2 conifer sprigs pine, fir, Douglas fir, or spruce
1 Tbsp dried whole rose hips lightly crushed
1 Tbsp sliced ginger
8 ounces hot water
1-2 ounces bourbon or whiskey
honey or maple syrup to taste
orange slices
Directions
Place conifer sprigs, rose hips, cinnamon stick, and ginger in a french press or teapot and cover with boiling water.
Let steep for 15-20 minutes.
In a large mug, add 1-2 ounces of whiskey and an orange slice. Strain the tea out into the mug using a fine mesh strainer.
Add desired amount of honey or maple syrup and stir well.
Garnish the hot toddy with more orange slices, a cinnamon stick, rose hips, or a conifer needle sprig. Serve hot.
