I try and cook all kinds of different things so everyone at the table has a full plate of food they are excited about. It's hard to believe but there are actually people out there who aren't into turkey and mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving is a fantastic day to mix traditional with experimental.

Not only do I try and mix up the dishes and flavors, but I also mix cannabis into the spread as well. I incorporate marijuana in different dishes and doses, so again there is something for everyone.

Some people like to go "low and slow" and ingest small amounts over the course of the afternoon. Others like to have one or two high potency items to get right to the point. There's even people who prefer a more balanced approach with CBD infused into something. No matter what category you fall into, here are some easy tips and recipes to fill out your "special" table.

Tips

Save yourself some explanation and write out a menu with the dosage on it and display it by your medicated items.

Use colored plates and bowls to designate which items are medicated and which aren't. This will inevitably save someone from mixing things up.

Cooking your own cannabis oil or butter may be cost effective for many people, but it almost always has a strong hashy flavor. If you don't want your weed food to taste like it has weed in it, acquiring products like Ripple or THC distillate or Rosin would be suggested. For Thanksgiving I use raw unflavored THC distillate. It's easy to work with, mild flavored, and you know exactly how much THC you're putting in each dish. And for CBD I recommend CBD isolate.

Make double batches of your special dishes and only medicate half. This will allow everyone to try anything regardless of cannabis experience.

Recipes

Here are basic recipes to give you a launching point for your own culinary creativity. Flavors, doses and portions can of course all be adjusted to fit the needs of your party and meal. Thanksgiving for many people also involves alcohol, so I tend to play it conservative with dosing to protect my friends. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a great dish to medicate on the stronger side. The bright strong flavor masks any hashy taste and because most people only put a small scoop or two on their plate, higher doses can be used.
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
12oz bag of cranberries
2 tsp orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice
Pinch of salt
100 mg THC distillate

In saucepan heat sugar, water and salt until sugar dissolves, then add fresh cranberries. Cook on medium low heat until the cranberries break open. Add orange juice and zest. Cook 3 more minutes. Transfer to bowl and refrigerate. When the cranberry sauce is warm, not hot, add your distillate and stir thoroughly and put back in refrigerator until cold and set.

Gravy

Gravy is a staple. It's on everyone's table, but not everyone makes an infused version. This is perhaps a great opportunity to make a CBD version because almost everyone will be able to try it and can help balance out the evening.
1 tsp sage
Turkey drippings
8 1/4 cups hot chicken broth
1/2 cup AP Flour
Salt and pepper
1 gram CBD isolate

Take your turkey drippings from the roasting pan and put in a bowl, then put in freezer. Once fat layer forms on top, remove fat and set aside, place liquids in refrigerator. Pour hot chicken broth in used turkey roasting pan and scrape up brown bits off pan. Spoon fat into sauce pan, heat and slowly add flour. Keep stirring until it begins to brown your roux, add your chicken broth and sage. Bring to boil and simmer until thick. Add CBD isolate, salt and pepper.

Cornbread

Who doesn't like a chunk of delicious cornbread to complement the other food on the table? Again I'd feel comfortable going stronger dosage on this because most people will only have 1 piece.
1/4 cup butter
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup AP flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking POWDER
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup fresh or canned corn
1/4 cup sour cream
100 mg THC distillate

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray baking pan with cooking spray. In small saucepan heat butter until melted. In mixer with wire whisk, mix butter milk and egg. When mixed, add cornmeal, corn, sour cream, sugar, flour, salt and baking flour, mix again. Lumpy is ok. Pour batter into greased baking pan. Bake about 25 minutes, until toothpick can be stuck in middle and cleanly removed. Cool a few minutes with paper towel on top.

This can result in an overwhelming shopping experience even for a regular consumer. So, what do you need to know before you go? A few easy-to-remember tips can help make your experience a fun and rewarding one.

Cannabis 101, Phenotypes: Indica, Sativa and Hybrid.

One of the most important factors in choosing a product is the phenotype. Phenotype is the result of a product, based on the genetics of a cannabis plant coupled with the variables in the environment it was grown. This result is then classified as an Indica, Sativa or a Hybrid of the two. The generally accepted understanding of these phenotypes is as follows: Indica “In da couch”, Sativa “Sunshine” and you guessed it, a Hybrid would be a mixture of the two.

Indica “In da couch” is an easy way to remember that an Indica based product will lean towards a body high or a more relaxed feeling and is sometimes referred to as a nighttime strain.

Sativa “Sunshine” is an easy way to remember that a Sativa based product will lean towards a head high which does not have the “In da couch” effect that is prevalent in Indica products. Sativa based products are generally used for things like creativity, cleaning the house, going on hikes and other activities that require movement or mental stimulation.

Hybrids or as I call them, the best of both worlds, are a combination of the “In da couch” feeling and a head high, which can result in many different experiences depending on the strain.

Now you can take some of the guesswork out of trying new products or strains, because the phenotype has the same effects across flower, edibles, vapes and concentrate products.

Outdoor Fun

Now for some fun. As an active Coloradan, I spend much of my time outdoors year-round and have found great products for the experiences I enjoy. While hiking 14er’s and the back bowls on Breckenridge don’t always require mj product usage, you can bet I am thinking about that first joint, edible or vape cartridge that I am going to consume as soon as I get off the mountain. When my brother-in-law isn’t dragging me up the bowls at Breckenridge, and I am all mountain riding, I love to keep a Sativa vape with me. When shopping for Sativa vapes at Emerald Fields, I discovered my three go-to brands: Olio, Green Dot Labs and O.Pen. All three of these brands available at Emerald Fields have crafted hardware and product that never disappoints and gets me where I want to go. I usually go with a Sativa based Olio vape cartridge, a backup O.Pen Sativa based cart such as the Jack Herer and a flavor pack by Green Dot Labs (2 different strains of the same phenotype) such as the Garlic Banger Indica pack. The Indica pack I use to help me fall asleep, where the Olio and O.Pen Sativa carts are great for all day usage or any time you feel the need for a pick me up.

Edibles & Flower

Another product I found at Emerald Fields is the Wana Quick line of edibles. These edibles come in all phenotypes and have a quick activation time and shorter duration (or more controlled as I like to think of it) and come in non-conventional gummy flavors. I like to keep one of each type with me and have been really enjoying the experience of the Peach Bellini and Colorado Sunrise fast acting Sativa gummies for daytime use. When it comes time to wind down though, the Piña Colada and Island Punch flavored fast acting Indica gummies get the job done. I would be remiss not to mention my favorite product of theirs, which is the Strawberry Margarita 1:1 CBD:THC fast acting gummies. The 1:1 product is simply a mix of a Hybrid strain with a CBD strain, and will have a much lower psychoactive or “high” effect than any Sativa, Indica or Hybrid gummy; these are the best for me after a long day of hiking or riding when I want my body to feel relaxed but am not ready to get traditionally stoned yet.

Saving the best for last, let’s apply the “In da couch”, “Sunshine” and Hybrid phenotypes to flower. Much like other products, there are thousands of strains available on any given day in Colorado covering various price points, potency levels, looks and smells. Don’t fret! Our phenotype tips hold up against flower just like other products.

When you want a product for relaxation or something like a movie night, simply look for an Indica strain. As a 15+ year user of flower, I can tell you a flower product’s THC % will matter less than it's phenotype. Some of the best and strongest highs I have experienced were from product testing down around 13% such as a batch of the Cherry Hills strain from my favorite grow, Veritas. Price points can be looked at from a similar lens to liquor: you can purchase Jose Cuervo tequila or Patrón tequila. They are both tequila drinks with the same alcohol % but one costs more than the other because of the quality of products put into it, the process involved in producing it and other similar factors. This applies to cannabis in the same way.

At Emerald Fields, I have found a variety of price points to fit my needs over time, and with the well-balanced offerings and rotating strains have never had a hard time getting what I need. My go-to flower brand is Veritas, and you can find a variety of strains covering all three phenotypes frequently at Emerald Fields. I even had some of their Wedding Cake strain… at my wedding 😉. When I am looking to stretch my dollar at Emerald Fields, I will step down in price points to Level 10 cannabis. At a slightly lower price point, Level 10 offers a variety of lesser grown genetics that never disappoint, like their Prayer Glue Sativa or Cookie Monster Indica. Once you know what you like, one of the best things about the vast availability of strains is that you get to try as many as you dare, and there is never a shortage in specific phenotypes to try.

Remembering this basic tip can equip you with the knowledge you need to make your cannabis experience the best it can be. Just remember Indica “In da Couch” Sativa “Sunshine” and Hybrid, a mixture of the two and you will be on your way! Not to mention, you will help your bartender serve you better by simply knowing the difference in phenotypes!

For those that are truly adventurous, the two go hand in hand.

There is nothing quite like sparking up a pre-roll before you hit the trail and go to play in the trees with your friends, or even just by yourself. My best friends and I made sure to pick up a pre-roll from Emerald Fields in Manitou before heading up to Palmer Park in Colorado Springs to search for hammocking spots and enjoy the scenery.

I personally love Sativa strains before physical activity. I experience a nice buzz to the head and a tingly feeling in my legs that makes me feel like I could keep on moving forever. We parked in the parking lot at the top of Palmer Park and walked to the overlook to get a good view of the city before venturing off trail. There are so many trails to pick from in the city, but Palmer Park is a local favorite that many out-of-state tourists do not know about.

Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and Red Rock open space are all beautiful places to go, but when there are tourists everywhere, sometimes it is nice to sneak away from all the hype. I am sure the people that live in New York get tired of Central Park, but people travel from all over just to bear witness, just like the giant mountain wonders all over Colorado. Anyways, we took our time walking to the top since it was still light outside and snapped a few beautiful shots of the iconic Colorado sunset — an even more beautiful sight from the top of a mountain.

I felt so energized I could not wait to hop over the stone wall and get to it. The sensation of being high really adds to the hiking experience. The flowers smell more fragrant. The breeze was warm and inviting. One of our friends was taking candid pictures as we ran around taking in everything nature has to offer.

It does not matter how old we are; we always have time to be a kid again, and of course marijuana in the mix always adds to the fun. Do not get me wrong — I love laying back and relaxing on the couch with a joint or a bowl just as much as the next guy, but experiencing the high outdoors with mother earth is different.

I typically make my own infused coconut oil from scratch using flower. But every once in a while, I like to take edibles found at the dispensary and go home and jazz it up my way.

This year marks 8 years since I decided alcohol wasn't for me and have found cannabis beverages to be a great way to celebrate in a similar manner. This year for Father’s Day, I made myself a wonderful Peanut Butter-Pretzel-White Chocolate Milkshake using Incredibles Peanut Butta Buddah Bar. Not only was this simple, but let's talk about how delicious this was. Cold, sweet, creamy...it was truly delectable. From start to finish it took 2 minutes to make, about 10 minutes drink, and had long lasting effects that carried me through the afternoon.

Beautiful milkshakes come from simplicity and quality products. Many in the cannabis industry know and use the slogan "fire in = fire out.” If you start with great ingredients you finish with a great product.

Here’s my milkshake recipe:
2 cups (or 1 pint) of your favorite ice cream
1/4 cup whole milk or your favorite milk substitution
An edible in the amount your edible mg tolerance allows. I put one whole 100mg bar into mine but this can vary based on your tolerance.

Add all the ingredients to your blender at the same time and use the pulse setting. Don't over churn, as this will cause your shake to melt faster.

Also, if you are hosting a party and want to make your milkshakes last longer before melting, add Cool Whip to your blended mix. Cool Whip has a stabilizer in it that will help keep the shake from melting as fast. I "highly" recommend playing with your cannabis treats and coming up with ways to incorporate them into your own creations!

At the end of the day there's no right or wrong way to have fun with your food. Take some risks and get creative! In the words of the chef I trained under for decade “Relax...it's just food.”

Before we headed up for the day we stopped at Emerald Fields and grabbed some fast acting gummies from Wana. Do you remember those peach ring gummies that you could get for $2 at the gas station? They tasted exactly like that. It was nostalgia on nostalgia. Nostalgiaception, if you will.

We both ate 3 or 4 gummies, got ready, and headed out. Personally, I'm partial to sunnier days for the zoo or hikes, well at least until this particular day. We went later in the afternoon since the zoo does deals for non-peak times, and while it wasn't a torrential downpour it was certainly raining. We battled on, got an umbrella, and went for it.

The edibles were already kicking in and we were having a blast. For the first hour or so we were inside with the animals taking cover from the rain. Have y'all ever seen a bull giraffe up close? Because I have now and let me tell you, even without being stoned they are enormous! My boyfriend had never fed giraffes before so of course we got some lettuce and giggled our baked butts off at the giraffe's huge tongues as they reached for that leafy treat.

As we zigged and zagged through the zoo, the rain started letting up more and more. We got to see the lionesses grooming each other in some sort of cleaning ouroboros, the meerkats were peeping their little heads out of their tunnels to see what the ruckus was, and the peacocks and peahens were grumpily standing around under any cover they could find to preserve their fine feathers.

While we were looking at the reptiles in their cool modern enclosures (if you haven't seen it yet, go soon as you can) the rain stopped completely, the sun came out and so did all the animals. They must have been feeling cooped up because as soon as that rain stopped they were out and eager to be seen.

For the first time in my many visits to the zoo I got to see the snow leopard clear as day. Spoiler: he's gorgeous! He must have been feeling lonely because we sat and looked at each other for around 10 minutes before I won our staring contest, no small feat with how high I was at that point. Then, as if he knew we were walking up, the tiger right next door to his snowy cousin came out playing in his pool, siting in front of the moon window grooming himself and chasing the birds that were either stupid enough or brave enough to land in his enclosure.

By this point we may as well have been the only people at the zoo. It was rare that we saw another group of people, and the animals seemed to sense how empty it was because even the Canadian Lynx, notoriously shy as they are, were out and relaxed, sunbathing and letting us see their little bobtails. They stared at us sleepily, completely unbothered by our presence and enjoying the quiet.

Other natives will know that the penguin and hippo house was the place that needed the biggest facelift of any other enclosure. While we didn't get to see the hippos that day, we did get to see the new penguin house. They have a beautiful outdoor pool and their inside enclosure is all windows with a breathtaking view of the city below. The hippos now have a huge outdoor pool and there is a fun little play area and a bridge to a little overlook, so on days the hippos are out you can walk up there and get

I planned a 12-mile out-and-back route the evening before, then woke up early on Saturday. After loading my pack with 3L of water, some Cheetos, beef jerky, trail mix (you know, all the healthy hiking snacks) and other day hike essentials, I got my dogs ready.

My Whippet gets off easy and only wears a harness, but my Australian Cattle Dog (both local rescue dogs, this is Colorado…) gets to wear a Mountain Smith carry harness loaded with 4L of water, dog food for breakfast and waste disposal bags. Lastly, before heading out the door, I rolled up a gram of some new product I got from one of my favorite shops, Emerald Fields.

It was an extraordinarily tricked out strain with pinkish red pistils I had not tried, called Lemmiwinks. Lemmiwinks joint in tow, I headed up to N. Cheyenne Canyon and started my hike around 7 am.

It was a typical July morning in Colorado: no clouds, lots of sun and lots of bikers. The morning went great; we trudged our way up High Drive to trail #667 and made it to our turnaround point just after 9:30 am. As usual, I found a flat area to take a break before heading back down. I ate my snacks, fed the dogs then proceeded to light the Lemmiwinks joint I brought.

Being that the State had issued a red flag warning, and the trail being “carry in carry out,” I always bring an empty spare water bottle with a little bit of water at the bottom, to use for an ashtray. The Lemmiwinks was fantastic and had a sweet, tasty smoke, so I sat and enjoyed the whole thing in one sitting. While this is normal for me, the strain was new, and I was unfamiliar with its potential high. It felt like a Sativa leaning Hybrid due to the “headband” like pressure and light body feeling I got upon standing up.

This is when the fun began! Trail #667 is easy to follow for much of the trail, with a few exceptions. There are three areas where the trail intersects other trails, and the intersections do not always have trail markings. By the time I got to the second intersection, I was pleasantly stoned and running low on water.

After what felt like a solid 5 minutes of racking my brain as to which hilly path looked more familiar and would take me back to High Drive, I could not decide. They both looked unfamiliar to me, now that I was high, and it did not help that there was no cell service up there for me to try and load a GPS app and see if I could find the right path.

That is when I had a moment of stoner clarity, and I gave my cattle dog Luna a command to “Find the truck.” This is an exercise I have practiced with her in large parking lots and local parks like Stratton open space so if she got off leash, she would hopefully just run back to my truck and wait for me. As soon as the command was out of my mouth, Luna took the left-hand route and started us down the trail.

About 30 minutes later, we arrived at the last intersection and I gave Luna the command again, and she took us down the center trail. We made it back to High Drive around 11 am with an empty camel pack for the last mile back to the truck, still happily stoned, a bit thirsty and sore, but safe.

The kicker (I checked after): both of the paths I was contemplating would have led me back to the parking lot. The route I did not take would have eventually brought me back via the Seven Bridges trail.