Turn Your Thanksgiving Dinner into a Danksgiving Feast

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Easy-to-Follow Cannabis-Infused Recipes

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s time to reflect on what we’re  thankful for. Family, friends, and good health are usually at the top of the list. And, if you’re like us, cannabis might make the list as well. 

So, as we get ready to gather with friends and family, we wanted to share some easy ways to transform your Thanksgiving dinner into a Happy Danksgiving feast.

Before we get to our easy-to-follow cannabis-infused recipes, let’s take a moment to clarify a few things. 

First, if you plan on sharing your cannabis infused dish, it’s important to let your guests know it contains THC before they try it. 

Second, keep in mind that any one of these cannabis-infused dishes can be enough to transform your Thanksgiving dinner into a Danksgiving Feast. So, do not feel obligated to try to make all of these dishes we list below. 

And, finally, if you plan on cooking with cannabis, you will need to decarboxylate your cannabis flower before it can be infused into your butter or oil. 

What is Decarboxylation?

Decarboxylation is a chemical process that activates the psychoactive compounds in your cannabis. It is the process that converts THC-A to THC, which is the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana.

When it comes to cannabis science, raw cannabinoid compounds that have not been decarbed are said to be in acid form. For example, before it has been decarbed, CBD is known as CBDA. It only becomes CBD after decarboxylation.

Same thing applies to THC. Before it’s decarbed, it’s known as THCA – and only after decarboxylation does THCA become Delta-9 THC which is psychoactive. That’s why eating raw cannabis flower will not get you high. 

How to Decarb Your Cannabis   

There are many ways to decarb your cannabis – but the essential first step is the same for most. You will need to find a way to raise the temperature of your cannabis flower.

One easy way to do so is to bake your bud:

  1. Start by breaking up your cannabis flower into coarse pieces no smaller than the size of a grain of rice.
  2. Next, place your broken up weed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
  3. Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil and place it on the center rack in your oven.
  4. Bake at a temperature around 230-245°F for about 30-40 minutes. You should stir your ground flower at least once. You’ll know it’s ready once it has a nice light brown color.

Keep in mind that the temperature of your oven can vary slightly from what you set it to. The best way to ensure you’re using the right temperature is to use an oven thermometer. They are not expensive and can vastly improve the results of your decarb efforts.

Once your weed is decarbed and has cooled down, you can use it to make cannabis infused butter – which you can use to make a wide range of THC-infused Thanksgiving dishes.

If you’re interested in making your own cannabis butter, check out our Bloom-Style Cannabutter Recipe.

If you don’t feel like making your own cannabis infused butter or oils, no problem. If you live in a Bloom state, you can also pick some cannabutter or cannabis-infused ghee (clarified butter) at your local Bloom dispensary.

One final note before we get into our favorite cannabis-infused recipes is that you should definitely test the strength of your cannabutter before using it in your dishes. 

THC Infused Thanksgiving Recipes: 

Cannabis Infused Mashed Potatoes

(Adapted from allrecipes.com)

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled, or to taste (Optional)
  • 1 cup  of milk
  • 2 tablespoons of cannabis-infused butter
  • Add salt and black pepper to taste

Infused Mashed Potatoes Instructions:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and garlic (optional), reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender (About 15 to 20 minutes).
  2. While the potatoes cook, heat milk and cannabutter in a small saucepan over low heat. Mix until the butter is melted and has mixed with the milk.
  3. Once the potatoes are ready, drain them and return to the pot. Slowly add the milk and butter mixture and mix it with a potato masher or electric mixer until potatoes are nice and creamy.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cannabis Infused Gravy

(Adapted from delish.com) 

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp. cannabis-infused butter
  • 3 tbsp. flour
  • 1 cup of turkey pan drippings
  • 2 cups chicken broth (can also be made using vegetable broth) 
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp. minced thyme 
  • 1 tsp. minced sage

Cannabis Infused Gravy Instructions:

  1. Melt cannabutter over medium heat in a small saucepan. Add flour and whisk for about a minute.
  2. Add pan drippings and whisk.
  3. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer until mixture thickens slightly.
  4. Add herbs and whisk in 1 cup of broth to the mixture. Return mixture to a simmer and add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Simmer for 10 minutes. You can add more broth if the gravy is too thick.

Cannabis-Infused Pumpkin Pie

(Adapted from cannadish.net )

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. softened cream cheese
  • 2 cups canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup of half and half cream
  • ⅓ cup of cannabutter
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 unbaked pastry shell (1 x 9 inch)
  • 1 cup whipped cream (optional)

Cannabis Infused Pumpkin Pie Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Beat cream in a large mixing bowl or kitchen mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined.
  3. Add the sugar and salt. Beat.
  4. Add the eggs, half-and-half, and cannabutter. Beat until combined.
  5. Beat in the remaining vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger until combined.
  6. Pour the filling into the pie crust. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the center is set.
  7. Let the pie cool at room temperature before topping with whipped cream.

Cannabis Infused Turkey

(Adapted from foodnetwork.com )

Serves: 10 – 12

The recipe below was adapted from what Food Network Magazine calls the “World’s Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey” recipe. To be clear, their recipe does not call for cannabutter, but we think it serves as a great starting point for cannabis infusion. Feel free to adjust and perfect the recipe with your favorite spices and herbs. Also, make sure to allow enough time to defrost your turkey ahead of time if it is frozen.

The USDA recommends thawing your turkey in the refrigerator. Doing so will take some time, so allow one day (24 hours) for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. If you have a frozen 12 lb. turkey you would need 3 full days for it to defrost in the refrigerator. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 turkey (10 – 12 lbs)
  • 4 -5 tbsp. cannabis-infused butter
  • 2 large onions cut into wedges
  • 4-6 carrots cut in half
  • 2-3 apples cut into wedges
  • Herbs like bay leaves, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
  • Garlic (optional)
  • Salt and pepper

Supplies needed:

  • 1 large roasting pan
  • Aluminum foil
  • Paper towels
  • Meat thermometer (helpful but optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Remove the neck bone, giblets, and liver from the cavity (giblets could be used in your gravy).
  3. Dry the turkey with paper towels.
  4. Season with salt and pepper inside and out.
  5. Fill the turkey cavity with chopped onions, carrots, apples, herbs of choice, and garlic if you wish.
  6. Apply cannabis-infused butter to the turkey – and depending on how involved you want to get, there are two ways you can do this.

    The first is to simply brush the outside of the turkey with melted cannabutter.

    The second way is to use your hands to loosen the skin of the breast of your turkey so you can stuff room temp cannabutter under the skin. You can also do the same with the skin on the legs by starting at the lower side of the breast and using your hands to gently loosen the skin without breaking it.

    Place 1 or 2 tbsp. of your cannabutter under the skin. Then from the outside, massage the skin to rub the cannabutter in and ensure that it is evenly spread out. This is where you can slide a couple of bay leaves under the skin for added flavor.

    Take another tbsp. of your unmelted cannabutter and rub it on the skin of your turkey. 
  1. Place the turkey in the roasting pan, breast-side up.
  2. Cover with foil and cook for 2 hours (for  10-12 lb. turkey) – add 15 minutes per pound for a larger turkey.
  3. Remove turkey from the oven and remove foil.
  4. Baste / rub with remaining cannabutter. Feel free to use some of the turkey pan drippings to baste your turkey – along with your cannabutter.
  5. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees F and cook for another hour or until the meat around the thigh reaches 165 degrees F.

    If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can check if it is fully cooked by inserting a wood skewer into the thickest part of the leg. The juices that flow out should be clear and not pink. If the juices are pink, cook for another 15 minutes and check again. Repeat until ready.
  6. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest (about 45 minutes) while you make your gravy.

Enjoy Responsibly

When consumed responsibly, edibles can provide a more complete cannabis experience that allows you to enjoy the effects longer. Edibles can also provide a healthier option for those who may not be comfortable smoking or vaping.

What You Need to Know About Edibles

For those new to edibles, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that it can take longer to feel their effects than smoking or vaping your cannabis. That is why it is best to start slowly with small doses.

Keep in mind that you can always consume more, but if you consume too much too quickly, it can result in an unpleasant experience.

How Long Does It Take For The Effects of Edibles To Kick In?

The amount of time it takes for the effects of your THC-infused edible to kick in will vary for each person. Depending on a number of factors including the type of edible, its potency, your metabolism, and your tolerance–it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours to feel the effects.

So, please keep this in mind as you infuse a little bit of cannabis into your Thanksgiving dinner. 

And, since you came to this blog due to your interest in cannabis and food, make sure to check out our related blog post: Foods That Can Enhance Your High. 

The Best Way to Medicate with Cannabis Is Different for All

Let Bloom Medicinals Help Determine Which Way Is Right for You 

As we’ve mentioned, each person’s experience with medicinal cannabis will vary. Instead of focusing on which strain you should medicate with, it’s just as important to strike the right balance of cannabinoids and terpenes that work best with your endocannabinoid system.

Doing so could help to unlock your body’s natural healing power. 

As part of our commitment to cannabis education, Bloom Medicinals would like to offer you the opportunity to schedule a free, one-on-one consultation.

During this consultation, our patient care specialists will get to know you, your qualifying conditions, medications, dietary restrictions, activity level, and any specific effects you’re seeking or looking to avoid.

By doing so, we can help to identify the consumption methods and forms of cannabis that are best for you!

Take the first step toward a better quality of life and schedule your free consultation today.

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Consultations are available by phone, in-person, or online.