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The Daily Meal

The Daily Meal

Posted: December 15, 2010 03:48 PM

Cannabis Club Culinary Offerings


2010-12-14-Picture1.pngWhen Alice B. Toklas laced a hashish fudge recipe between apple mousse and anecdotes about good friend Picasso in her 1954 cookbook, The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook, she probably had no intention of becoming an iconic name in the edibles game. The recipe itself left a legacy that has since contributed to the evolution of cannabis food.

Since Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, and 10 other states have decriminalized cannabis usage for medicinal purposes, the classic notion of stoner food is changing. From brownie to salsa, the market has certainly evolved since Toklas's cookbook and even more so since the mainstreaming of pot smoking in the late '70s. The expected -- rich, buttery dessert foods -- has transformed alongside the mainstream health food trend.

The best access for locals to fill their whole nutritional gamut is at the marijuana dispensaries which are popping up like Starbucks in those states that allow it. And while Los Angeles seems to be one of the more dispensary-dense cities, they're still awfully exclusive when it comes to entrance. For many patients, trips to the dispensary are optional thanks to delivery services and elevated at-home cooking.

Chef Mike DeLao of Cannabis Planet TV and HighTimes.com has been a personal chef for patients for years. After he sustained a sports injury, Chef Mike started medicating via edibles but found himself 40 pounds heavier. Since the weight gain he's been on a mission "to do high energy foods," with what he believes is "the most nutritious seed there is." Bringing healthy options into the mix has produced such positive patient experiences that Chef Mike loftily believes "we will be able to reverse cancer."

Coming from the East Coast, it's hard to wrap your head around the legal cannabis culture that has developed in recent years on the West Coast, and a few states across the map. Mastering the vocabulary such as indica, sativa, and hybrid, is something of a science, and not one that can be fully conquered via the web. The whole system remains elusive, as many cannabis companies don't have websites, many websites don't have product images, and many dispensaries are member-exclusive.

So, how can you get in behind the curtain to see the culinary happenings that have far-surpassed the legendary brownies? Well, remember when the gleaming power of a doctor's note was used to get you out of things, like school? For those state residents with the right permission slip, it's what gets them in. For everyone else, we've gathered a little sampling of edibles like biscuits, teas, and pizza just for you.

THC Tinctures vs. Cannabutter
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Cannabutter has been the staple ingredient in the creation of medical edibles like baked goods, but the fat in butter has led to some obvious health concerns. We now know that THC can be dissolved in three substances: fat, alcohol, and glycerin. With the growing popularity of healthy and vegan-friendly foods, people are cooking with alcohol- and glycerin-based marijuana tinctures instead of the traditional fat-based methods.

Related: Chef Mike's Medicated Salsa Recipe
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When Alice B. Toklas laced a hashish fudge recipe between apple mousse and anecdotes about good friend Picasso in her 1954 cookbook, The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook, she probably had no intention of beco...
When Alice B. Toklas laced a hashish fudge recipe between apple mousse and anecdotes about good friend Picasso in her 1954 cookbook, The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook, she probably had no intention of beco...
 
 
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SiameseTrainer
...we are Sia..mese if you don't please..
10:59 PM on 12/20/2010
If you have a bunch of dried "shake" that does not really work for smoking rub it through a fine sieve until it is finely powdered. Mix 1/4 shake to 3/4 powdered almonds with just enough honey to bind into a firm fondant. Take big medjul dates make a slit in one side and remove the pit, hand form the fondant into a cylinder and stuff the date. Serve those at you next winter solstice party, a mellow high that is reluctant to leave. ;>}
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camanokat
Outta this world
02:00 PM on 12/21/2010
I thought you need heat to activate the THC.
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SiameseTrainer
...we are Sia..mese if you don't please..
10:26 PM on 12/21/2010
No, heating breaks down the cell walls making it more digestible, it also alters some of the compounds speeding absorbsion time. See here;
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq_consumption.shtml#eat. You might find the erowid site worth exploring.
10:01 AM on 12/18/2010
Awesome!
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SteveDenver
Progressive and liberal, just like Jesus Christ.
10:23 PM on 12/16/2010
No Doritos? No Ice Cream? No Chinese Food? Total miss.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
KJLSanDiego
05:24 PM on 12/16/2010
I think these are great for people with chronic pain conditions.
Years of pharmaceutical pain pills will absolutely destroy anyone's digestive system.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
InedaName
I voted 3rd party in '08.
04:28 PM on 12/16/2010
That pizza in slide #7 is a thing of beauty.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ZenCrusader
trying to be more zen in a zany world.
04:04 PM on 12/16/2010
reminds me of early organic restaurants in Boulder & Berkeley when I got dirty looks for expressing the opinion that sprouts is NOT an entree. but if there's good herb in it, hey, count me in !
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ontariogirl
Power to the People
02:52 PM on 12/16/2010
Mmmm mmm space cakes.
09:56 AM on 12/16/2010
don't eat too much either or you could be way gone for a long, long time.
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rikster
buy the ticket-take the ride
09:47 AM on 12/16/2010
ah..the good old days of my "seasoned" meat sauce with spaghetti...
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Craigy6
09:32 AM on 12/16/2010
Thank you New Jersey, and the illegal and immoral war on drugs, for assuring that I will never have easy access to any of this. I guess I'll just continue living my life, being viewed as a criminal for something as simple and beautiful as ingesting a plant (you know, a natural product that grows from the ground). I watched my roommate stumble in last night from a holiday party drunk off her ass and knocking stuff over. It must be nice that she can legally get so out of her mind that she can't remember where she is or how she got there, but god forbid I eat a brownie that relaxes me a bit with natural products. Somehow I'm the criminal in that situation.
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Red45
We can turn the tide
11:52 PM on 12/16/2010
Never say never, craigy. Things are a-changin fast.
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Adirondacker
04:16 PM on 12/20/2010
Alcohol is equally natural. Just give yeast a little sugar and all sorts of magical things happen.
09:13 AM on 12/16/2010
Damn .... I am relocating to Cali for awhile....:-) Some of this sh** looks deeeelishhhhhh !!!!!
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
07:26 AM on 12/16/2010
Hey, this is neat. The new expression will be "don't bogart that Cannabutter"
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
tweeksmom
This space for rent.
05:46 AM on 12/16/2010
I love, love, love the stuff but, I'm sorry, it TASTES just awful! No matter what you put it in.....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
superjules
06:19 AM on 12/16/2010
Really? All the cookies and brownies I've had have been delicious. Wish I had some right now.
08:17 AM on 12/16/2010
Try it in a spiced hot tea, all you taste is the spices you put in and it's wonderful.
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dubbleplusgood
turned off CNN, turned on CurrentTV
04:48 AM on 12/16/2010
A couple good videos about cannabis conversion and baking are here starring Vancouver's own Watermelon girl.

http://www.bakingafoolofmyself.com/
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ontariogirl
Power to the People
02:44 PM on 12/16/2010
Thanks for the link. :))
06:59 AM on 12/19/2010
Yes! Great link, thanks!
12:32 AM on 12/16/2010
They should just make combos with pot. It would knock out two birds with combos.