Eat Your Greens

NEW MEANING TO THE TERM EAT YOUR GREENS!

As children we were regularly told by our parents to “eat our greens”, and with edibles gaining in popularity, the trend of “eating green” is constantly growing big and strong. While something tells me this is not exactly what they meant, after all, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, did tell us, “Parents Just Don’t Understand”; we’ve come a long way since pot brownies first surfaced. With dispensaries offering a wide range of edibles including chocolate bars, gummies, olive oil, seltzers, and more, the cannabis industry’s influence on the culinary arts is ever evolving. Moreover, with DIY projects and last year’s quarantine obsession, bread, on the rise, chefs—amateur or otherwise are cooking with cannabis.

Cooking with cannabis may seem intimidating, but it’s usage in recipes is no different than any other ingredient; in addition to adding a pop of flavor, it can also add a pop of energy, calm, or euphoria. In the article, “Making Edibles? Our Picks for the Best Flower to Cook With” on Greenside Recreational’s website, they listed Trainwreck, White Widow, OG Cush, Super Lemon Haze, and Orange Crush, as the best flowers

to cook or bake with.

If baking is your forte, or you just prefer the sweeter side of life, Greenside Recreational noted that Trainwreck, OG Cush, and Orange Crush are favorites amongst bakers. “A great pain killer and promotes feelings of euphoria and satisfaction when cooked”, Greenside Recreational said that Trainwreck is “a perfect choice for those who are on a budget” as less is more with this particular strain. On the other hand, they said that “OG Kush has a relaxing and calming effect that will make you feel like you’re floating on a tasty cloud of sweet treats.” Orange Crush is a great choice for fans of the tried-and-true pot brownies and packs a “powerful punch.” White Widow, which “produces a refreshing pine aroma” when smoked, also yields a subtle minty flavor, and “will give you a more substantial high when you enjoy it in tasty edibles vs. smoking.” As the name suggests, if you are looking for a citrus flavor, look no further than Super Lemon Haze, which Greenside Recreational said energizes, producing “a get-up-and-go type effect.” Furthermore, Greenside Recreational recommended that consumers shouldn’t hesitate to seek advice from their local dispensary when deciding which type of flower or strain they’d like to use; it’s all dependent on the flavors they’re trying to capture, and ultimately, the desired effect.

Much like preheating the oven in preparation before baking, cannabis needs to be preheated in a process called decarboxylation before it can be used in any recipes. Decarboxylation, which is the process of heating cannabis for 30 to 45 minutes or more in the oven at about 220 degrees Fahren-

heit, activates the cannabinoids in the cannabis flower such as CBD and THC, with the latter being the compound that produces the psychoactive effect, or feeling of being high. With other forms of ingestion such as smoking, the cannabis is heated and therefore automatically decarboxylated due to the high temperature introduced when the cannabis is lit.

Armed with parchment paper and a cookie sheet, Patrick Bennett in his article, “What is decarboxylation, and why does your cannabis need it?” on Leafly, suggested when decarboxylating at home, to “Finely grind your cannabis until the material can be spread thin over parchment and placed on your baking sheet.” In that same article, Bennett added, “Cannabis can also be decarboxylated in a slow cooker by introducing solvents such as cooking oils or lecithin. These methods create infusions that can be used in a variety of cooking recipes, topicals, and even cannabis capsules. Since they contain decarboxylated cannabinoids, they will be effective any way you choose to consume them.”

Once the cannabis is ready, grab your pot and a pot, cake pan, slow cooker, or any other supplies you may need. Once decarboxylated, cannabis can be handled like any other ingredient. All cooking instruments and methods are fair game, and like the cannabis industry itself, cooking and baking with cannabis is ever evolving. Cannabis isn’t just for candies and desserts anymore, so the battle between sweet and savory is over. Gone are the days when pot brownies reigned supreme; these days, dishes are more in line with scenes from Top Chef. The growing trend of cannabis in the kitchen has led to recipes for anything from cannabis-infused tea, lemonade, honey, canna butter, chicken wings, brioche French toast, and even an array of pasta dishes and potato

salad; the possibilities are endless.

So set your menu and enjoy. (Cannabis-infused) soup’s on!

Much like preheating the oven in preparation before baking, cannabis needs to be preheated in a process called decarboxylation before it can be used in any recipes.

Sources: https://greensiderec.com/best-flower/ https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/ what-is-decarboxylation