In my humble opinion, the only thing better than weed or food is weed in my food. While there are more than a few Seattle brands with a passion for crafting out-of-this-world cannabis treats, cooking with cannabis in your own space can be a fun and gratifying experience. Learning to use this aromatic herbaceous plant in the kitchen is a perfect endeavor for a regular consumer looking for a new, creative way to partake, or a cooking enthusiast who’s decided to expand their culinary prowess.
If you’re looking to find some tasty recipes and/or further educate yourself on the basics or dosing process, here are five cookbooks to check out to satiate both your curiosity and hunger.
High Times magazine has been one of the loudest voices in cannabis media since 1974. A long-time contributor to the cannabis field, expert Elise McDonough authored the renowned magazine’s cookbook, sharing over fifty tantalizing recipes along with plenty of informative content regarding every part of the process from the basics of edible creation to what to expect post-consumption. In its pages you’ll find the blueprints for a wide range of tempting cocktails, traditional meals and sauces, fresh and funky bites, and yummy desserts to choose from. High Times prides their official cookbook as being a source for easy recipes and is a prime go-to for those new to working with cannabis in the kitchen. You can find the highly-rated tome of terpene tastiness at several retailers and online at Amazon.com.
This well-loved option is also available on Amazon, bursting with thirty flavorful recipes penned by Stephanie Hua and Coreen Carroll. Crack it open and get straight to cooking up some of their yummy mac n’ cheese bites and pour up a cotton-mouth-quenching peach and ginger ale float. Then, work your way through the contents and learn all about their take on cannabis, how your edible endeavors will affect your body and mind, and what tools you may need to add to your culinary arsenal. While the bites are small, they are packed with larger-than-life flavor, including that of our favorite smokey plant. Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Kitchen is also a primo pick for learning all about stocking your pantry with homemade cannabutters, syrups, and oils.
Mary J. White is known and beloved in the Seattle area for her wide range of knowledge regarding the creative and tasty usage of cannabis in the kitchen. She finds joy in sharing her learnings with others through hosting classes dedicated to that very passion in the lovely space of her home. Just as with her tangible, tastable culinary creations, Mary has poured her heart out into a cookbook full of out-of-this-world recipes and important educational information regarding strains and delivery for cannachefs of any level to refer to. After you’ve checked out one of her classes with your friends and family, you’ll want to get your hands on Mary J’s cookbook on her website in either softcover or ebook format.
This one is a total necessity if you’re interested in studying the plant in a more in depth fashion as you learn its cooking properties. Its pages claim to hold “feel-good food for home cooks” and it certainly seems to live up to that statement with versatile mouth-watering recipes for any time of day. I, personally, am a big fan of this choice because its authors included recipe options even for me, a gluten-free vegan with food allergies. Take a quick look at their website to see an impressive list of the chefs showcased in the Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook. Between their talent and the incredible expertise of author Robyn Griggs Lawrence mixed with stunning photography by Povy Kendal Atchison, this one is a must-have.
Last but never least, Bong Appetit is a cookbook all about top-shelf tastes and was released in association with the show by the same name by the editors of MUNCHIES. The book is a beyond dope pick for unique recipes and is an option that solidly contends with the rest when it comes covering the educational bases of the craft in an easy-to-read manner. The recipes are accompanied by beautiful photos and phenomenal tips and tricks for a beginner or the more experienced. Bong Appetit is all about creating phenomenally good food using the best cannabis, and your taste buds and more are sure to be pleased with the results. Pick up the lovely hardcover high-eats handbook on Amazon and watch an episode of Bong Appetit while you pick your first recipe to try.
Whichever cookbook ends up in the cart and on your shelf, you can rest assured that your new hobby is well-informed. Whether you’d just like to pick one up to try your hand at a little taste of the high life now and then, or want to collect all five and work through them regularly for years to come, these reputable picks tote many positive reviews and meet the criteria for many different tastes. Ask your local budtender to assist in the strain-choosing process or help answer any questions you may have about cannabis. Stop by your local shop to get the creative juices flowing, or to get some edibles if the dishes are all dirty.
