Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

Weed Wine – Honest Marijuana

Weed Wine: What is it And How To Make It

There are actually two types of weed wine — jackpot, right! — alcoholic and nonalcoholic (a.k.a. dealcoholized).

Alcoholic weed wine is just regular wine mixed with your favorite strain of cannabis. There’s a bit more involved than just dumping a baggie of pot into a bottle of wine.

With the alcoholic variety of weed wine, it’s also important to remember that you’ll get a one-two punch of alcohol and marijuana, so be sure to take it easy until you get used to the effects.

Nonalcoholic weed wine is regular wine that has been dealcoholized, mixed with additives to reintroduce flavor and texture, and combined with cannabis to give you the stoner experience.

With this type of weed wine, the cannabis, rather than the alcohol, gives the beverage its potency and effects.

You can’t make nonalcoholic weed wine at home — it requires some fancy and expensive equipment — but the product is growing more popular and is finding its way into more and more dispensaries across the country.

The History Of Weed Wine

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Though professionally produced weed wine is made with modern techniques and modern technology, the process of infusing wine and other liquids — such as tea, coffee, water, and milk — has been around for thousands of years. In fact, weed tea was probably the first edible in recorded history and you know some cannagenius steeped weed into his or her wine shortly thereafter. The early methods for making weed wine are still viable today and, like weed tea, simply involve soaking dried, cured, and decarboxylated weed in your favorite brand of vino.

How Modern Weed Wine Is Made
Modern weed wine manufacturers make use of blended nanoemulsions rather than simply infusing (steeping) the cannabis in the liquid. Nanoemulsions are oil-based, water-soluble solutions that dissolve more readily into liquids. These emulsions are made by using energy to break up oil into smaller and smaller droplets. The droplets are then encapsulated in specially formulated solutions so that they will remain suspended (dissolved) in liquids. Without this modern emulsion process, the cannabis oils would eventually separate and your bottle of weed wine would look like a lava lamp.

How To Make Your Own Weed Wine
Stove-Top Method
Ingredients
⅛ to ¼ ounce of high-quality cannabis
Cheesecloth
Your favorite wine
Grinder
Punch bowl or large pot
Pan
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Weed Wine Pairings
If this is your first time making your own weed wine, you may be wondering what weed strains and wine varieties pair well together.

Here’s what we’ve discovered over the years:

Indicas work well with bold and robust wines
Sativas work well with light and sweet wines
As a general rule, dry wines infuse better than lighter wines
For best flavor and experience, we recommend considering these guidelines when making your own weed wine, but don’t be afraid to experiment and try something completely different.

Instructions
Decarboxylate your buds in a 230-degree oven for 110 minutes (your kitchen, and the rest of your house, WILL smell like weed so plan accordingly).
Let the cannabis cool completely.
Shred the buds in a grinder (not too small)
Dump the decarboxylated, ground ganja in the center of a cheesecloth.
Depending on how much cannabis you have and how big your cheesecloth is, you may have to use more than one.
Tie the corners together to form a closed bag.
Pour your wine into a punch bowl or large pot.
Place cheesecloth bags into the wine.
Cover the container with plastic wrap
Store the container in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours.
Stir occasionally.
At the end of the steeping period, remove the weed bags from the wine and squeeze to get all the cannabinoids out.
Pour the wine through a clean piece of cheesecloth or a small-hole strainer before serving.
Enjoy!
Though this method of infusing cannabis into your favorite wine does take a long time, the results are well worth the wait.

Need something faster? Try the crockpot method in the next section.

Crockpot Method
Ingredients
Crockpot
⅛ to ¼ ounce of high-quality cannabis
Cheesecloth
Your favorite wine
Grinder
Pan
Aluminum foil
Instructions
Decarboxylate your weed in a 230-degree oven for 110 minutes.
Let the cannabis cool completely.
Shred the buds in a grinder (not too small)
Dump the decarboxylated, ground ganja in the center of a cheesecloth.
Depending on how much cannabis you have and how big your cheesecloth is, you may have to use more than one.
Tie the corners together to form a closed bag.
Pour your favorite wine into the crockpot.
If you want to add herbs and spices to the wine (cinnamon, for example, is perfect for the holidays), now is the time to do so.
Set the crockpot on low and let the weed wine steep for two hours.
Check the mixture every 20 or 30 minutes to ensure that the liquid isn’t exceeding a slow boil (any more than that and you run the risk of burning the weed and cooking away the wine).
At the end of two hours, turn off the crockpot and let the wine cool.
Remove the weed bags.
Pour the weed wine through a clean cheesecloth or small-hole strainer.
Serve and enjoy.
This is a great recipe for ganja get-togethers because it’s easy to assemble and cooks quickly. You can even drink it warm on a cold winter’s day.

Start Your Weed Wine Adventure Slowly
All edibles — including weed wine — are slow-acting and long-lasting. This is because the THC or CBD has to travel through your digestive system and then through your circulatory system before it reaches your brain. As a result, you may have to wait anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes to feel the effects. Once they hit, though, they can last from 6 to 10 hours. Then you’ve got the effects of the alcohol to contend with (if you drink the alcoholic variety). Alcohol acts more quickly than cannabis so you may feel a bit of a blur within 5 to 10 minutes of imbibing that lasts for 30 to 90 minutes.

Regardless of which type of weed wine you drink, take it slow. Don’t chug a glass and, when nothing happens, chug another one. That’s a recipe for disaster. Sip and savor the wine in your glass, talk with your friends, and wait for the experience to kick in.

Buy Or DIY?
Buying weed wine is probably the easiest way to get a good high because everything is done for you. All you have to do is pour a glass and enjoy. But with that convenience comes the question of what’s inside. What strains did the brewer use? Were the strains grown organically? Are there added chemicals to worry about? Home-brewed weed wine eliminates all those questions. Yes, you have to contend with the potent mix of alcohol and cannabis, but, if you’re careful, the combination can be a lot of fun.

We suggest trying both before settling on the one that works best for you.

If you’re looking for a marijuana high in drinkable form, choose a store-bought, dealcoholized weed wine. If you can’t get professionally-manufactured weed wine in your area, give one of the DIY methods outlined above a try.

It really comes down to personal preference, so it’s always better to try both options, experience what they have to offer — flavor, aroma, texture, potency, quality of experience — and then make that your go-to weed wine.

The Best Weed Wine Is Made From High-Quality Strains
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Regardless of whether you buy or DIY, the best weed wines are those made from high-quality marijuana strains. For this, and all marijuana products, the old adage is true: Quality in equals quality out. When you buy (or brew) weed wine made from high-quality, organic ingredients (like the strains from Honest Marijuana), you get the best possible final product that money can buy. Sure, you can save money by steeping regs and mids in your vino, but that will result in a low-quality final product that will produce less-than-stellar effects.

Going with high quality strains is the best way to drink your weed. Cheers!

Bio: Anthony Franciosi, also known as Ant, is an honest to goodness farmer whose fingers are as green as the organic cannabis he grows. He is the proud founder of Honest Marijuana- an all natural, completely organic growery in Colorado.

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STEEPED COFFEE “PACKS FOR GOOD”

For the holidays and beyond, Steeped Coffee, known for its simple award-winning brewing method that has become the standard for single-serve specialty coffee, is proud to announce the launch of its PACKS FOR GOOD program (steepedcoffee.com/packsforgood).

The new ongoing PACKS FOR GOOD initiative helps support a growing list of charities through partner pages on the Steeped Coffee website using a giving code, where Steeped gives back 20% of all sales as a donation to each non-profit to support their mission.

To kickoff PACKS FOR GOOD Steeped Coffee is shining light on the current growing hunger crisis right here in America affecting our communities and neighbors by donating to Feeding America. To show support, use code FEEDINGAMERICA at checkout and Steeped will donate 20% of total sales to Feeding America and its member food banks.

“We know that access to nutritious food is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Yet many people across the country may not know where they will find their next meal and the pandemic further exacerbates this issue,” said Blake Thompson, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Feeding America.

As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief and food rescue organization, Feeding America is a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that provides food assistance to more than 40 million people annually. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Feeding America estimates that more than 50 million people could be food insecure in the United States this year, including 17 million children.

Steeped, Inc., a Benefit Corporation and Certified B Corp has a double bottom line of Purpose Beyond Profits. “We are always looking for ways Steeped can serve as a positive force for good,” said Josh Wilbur, CEO and Founder of Steeped Coffee. “PACKS FOR GOOD lets us generously give with 20% to meet the moment now and into the future as a vehicle for other organizations.”

Steeped Coffee is one of the only brewing methods that doesn’t require a machine, grinder, or special equipment to prepare premium coffee. Brewed similar to tea, Steeped Packs only need water to make a fresh cup of barista approved coffee. Each pack contains hand-roasted ground coffee that is nitro sealed for freshness in fully compostable packaging. The company’s proprietary brewing method bypasses any risks of using a communal coffee pot and has quickly been adopted by hundreds of the nation’s top coffee roasting companies and brands.

“There is no doubt we’ll never forget these times, but it’s what we do for others, even the small things, that will be remembered,” says Wilbur. “As a startup in these crazy times, Steeped is looking to do anything within reach to make a difference and encourage others to do the same. We know that every small act will all add up to make a big difference.”

In March, Steeped also launched the “Stay Home, Stay Steeped” campaign to encourage customers to stay home by providing free home delivery on all coffee, cups, kettles, and gear. The offer has been extended indefinitely and aims to help those adjusting to new rituals at home, and routines while working from home.

In April, Steeped, Inc. also launched “You Give, We Give” (steepedcoffee.com/yougivewegive), a campaign to help fuel and lift the spirits of frontline doctors, nurses, firefighters, police, and first responders as they battle the COVID-19 crisis. “You Give, We Give” invited people to gift Steeped Coffee Packs to those on the front lines, with Steeped matching all gifts, pack for pack, and providing free weekly deliveries directly to the hospitals, stations, and clinics where they’re needed most. The program was featured on the Ellen Show as well as by several celebrities and over 70,000 packs have been donated across the country.

Visit steepedcoffee.com/packsforgood to learn more and show your support for those struggling with hunger across America.

About Steeped Coffee

Steeped, Inc. based in Santa Cruz, California, is a Certified B Corp and Benefit Corporation focused on every detail from farm-to-cup and beyond, to bring people the most convenient, high quality, ethically sourced, and sustainably packaged products available. Steeped Coffee is the new single-serve coffee standard helping to make quality coffee accessible within Guilt-Free Packaging. The proprietary Steeped Brewing Method delivers 100% freshly roasted, precision ground, and nitro-sealed specialty coffee pre-portioned within Steeped Full Immersion Filters. Steeped Coffee is the simplest way to make a perfect cup of coffee by just adding water, with no machine needed.

Steeped Coffee is available on Amazon with Prime Free Delivery, at premium supermarkets, luxury hotels, and offices with craft coffee and at-home services. Through licensed partnerships, Steeped, Inc. works with over 200 specialty coffee roasters to share its technology and brewing method around the globe. For more information, visit steepedcoffee.com. For business inquiries, contact sales@steepedcoffee.com or visit steepedcoffee.com/business.

Features of Steeped Coffee include:

Hand Roasted Specialty Coffee: no instant powders, just delicious coffee
No Machines Required: unplugged single-serve convenience
Guilt-Free Packaging: made using fully compostable and renewable materials
Nitro-Sealed: removes oxygen, stopping the clock on freshly ground beans
Full Immersion Filter: renewable plant-based non-GMO compostable filters that regulate ideal water-in and maximum flavor-out
Ultrasonically Sealed: no glues, staples, or wasted materials for max steeping
Precision Ground: consistent water-cooled grinding to the micron
Pre-Portioned: optimal SCA recommended water-to-coffee ratios
Barista Approved: continuously tested by multiple independent specialty coffee Q-graders for freshness, quality, and taste
Just + Water: a simple cup

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Cookies for the Holidays – Sugar Plum

We missed National Cookie Day! But fear not, cookies are still out there, and the ones from Sugar Plum are FANTASTIC.

 

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Traveling this holiday? Think seat protector! – Assuage

Many people are making their travel plans. One thing that should be included in that plan is taking measures to ensure that travel is safer, which will help reduce exposure to viruses and germs. One company, Assuage, is making it simple for people to have clean, germ-free, seating anywhere they go. Its new seat protectors may be lightweight and easy to take along, but they provide a crucial barrier before taking a seat.

“Whether we are traveling across town or across the country, we will need to take a seat at some point,” explains Amelia Gundersen-Herman, co-founder of Assuage. “Do yourself a favor and put a simple barrier between your body and that public seat. Doing so can go a long way toward helping you to avoid those germs and viruses, and to help keep you healthy while traveling.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, the COVID-19 virus can be detected on some surfaces for up to three days. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the flu virus can live on some surfaces for up to 48 hours. This makes it crucial that surfaces be properly and routinely disinfected. However, many public seats are overlooked and are not being cleaned as often as they should be. This makes it important for people to take matters into their own hands in order to help reduce exposure to harmful bacteria and viruses.

Assuage makes it simple for people to have a clean place to take a seat. The convenient seat covers were made for people on the go. They are lightweight, small, and easy to carry around.

The seat protectors created by Assuage have been designed to fit most seats and take just seconds to put over them. The elastic around the edges helps hold the seat protector in place, so that it won’t slide around or fall down like a blanket or towel would. The Ultra Cozy model is reusable and is made from comfortable, soft, breathable fleece. The Recyclable model is meant for a single-use and can then be dropped into a recycling bin. Assuage seat protectors are ideal for anyone who may be in a situation where they will be using public seating including airplanes, public transportation, waiting rooms, salons, theaters, classrooms, stadiums, rental cars, and more.

“We cannot leave it up to businesses to ensure that everything is properly sanitized all of the time,” added TJ Wronski, co-founder of Assuage. “That’s why we created this product. Our seat protectors not only create a necessary barrier on the seat, but they also bring people peace of mind. That alone makes traveling more enjoyable anytime of the year.”

The Ultra Cozy reusable seat protector comes in three colors, including blue skies, jet black, and sakura blossom pink. It comes with a reusable carry bag, making it easy to tote around. Simply stretch the elastic top over the back of the headrest, and there’s a barrier on the seat. The Ultra Cozy is machine-washable and made from soft 100% polyester fleece. The Recyclable seat protector is made of all recyclable materials, is soft, and comes in a resealable package of two. To learn more about the seat protectors, visit the site at: https://www.assuagetravel.com/. To see a video of how Assuage seat protectors are used, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb2KtJKXUo9hOOIoI_-JUQg/.

Assuage was created by Amelia Gundersen-Herman and TJ Wronski, who reside in Dubai. She is a Pennsylvania native who has a master’s degree in international business. He is a native of the Toronto area and has a master’s degree in business administration. Their U.S. business is centered out of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, while their Canadian business is centered out of the Toronto area. The company was started out of the necessity for making sure that their family was protected during their heavy commuting and traveling.

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Procrastibaking

Our holidays look different this year – and so do our place settings, ingredient quantities, and levels of patience. Enter Erin Gardner, former pastry chef, baking and cake design instructor, and author of Procrastibaking: 100 Recipes for Getting Nothing Done in the Most Delicious Way Possible (March 2020, Atria Books). Erin has created several low-stress and absolutely delicious ways to approach baking in this new holiday landscape:

· If you’re celebrating the holidays alone or in a smaller group than you’re used to, she’s downsized some of her most popular recipes including her Olive Oil Apple Snack Cake, Double Chocolate Mint Cookies, a Giant (Mini) Cinnamon Roll Scone, Gingersnaps, and more.

· If you’re far away from family members and want to send them a sweet treat, she’s compiled recipes that store and travel well. Recipes include Granola Bars, Almond Biscotti, Neapolitan Marshmallows, and Sunflower Toffee.

· For a unique gift idea for local friends and family, she suggests you drop off festive containers with balls of frozen cookie or scone dough. Recipes perfect for freezing include Cinnamon Roll Scones, Roasted Tomato Scones, Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double-Chocolate Mint Cookies, and Ginger Sandies.

And, from now until Christmas, she’s running the Procrastibakers Super Snuggly Socially Isolated Holiday Baking Club, which will be a community gathered around her Instagram account, @erin.bakes. Every Wednesday, she’ll feature reduced-size recipes from Procrastibaking and more pandemic isolation-friendly baking ideas. Users who post pictures of their baked goods with the hashtag #procrastibakersclub are automatically entered to win weekly book giveaways and other prizes.

Erin was named one of the best wedding cake makers by both Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides; she’s competed and won the Food Network show Sweet Genius. Now, she’s here to guide us through the far less glamorous task of enjoying the holidays in the home kitchens we haven’t really left in months: She really does it all. In March, The New York Times called Procrastibaking “The delicious distraction we need these days,” and that still couldn’t be truer.

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Exercise your Brain – BrainHQ

Facing the holiday shopping rush is a daunting task every year, but 2020 has taken it to a completely different level. Shopping in-person poses serious health risks during this pandemic, and online orders may not reliably be arriving in time for the holidays.

These reasons, along with clinical evidence from hundreds of peer-reviewed studies, are why cognitive training program BrainHQ from Posit Science makes the perfect last-minute gift this holiday season. BrainHQ has been proven to improve attention, decision-making, brain speed, memory, intelligence, and even people skills. BrainHQ has even been linked to improved cognitive measures and lowered dementia risk in pre-dementia patients. BrainHQ is a gift that can be given virtually and can be redeemed on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.

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Let them eat (crumb) cake!

Holiday celebrations might look different for awhile, but you can still share something special with your loved ones on any occasion with a nostalgic treat from simpler times… classic crumb cake! https://clarksonavecrumb.com/

Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cakes are baked using an old-fashioned family recipe from 1950s Brooklyn, NY. In a modern twist, the cakes come in a variety of flavors beyond the classic and they can be shipped directly to anyone’s door. Full cakes piled high with crumb topping come in 8×8 size. They are also available in a 12-pack of perfectly portioned individual servings called Crumbkins. All of the cakes are made with natural ingredients and are preservative free. They even have a gluten free version. Send the simple taste of homemade goodness to your favorite foodie or serve one to your holiday guests… without doing all of the work! 3, 6 and 12 month gift subscriptions are also available. Crumb get some!

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Snowy River Cocktails Releases Fall/Winter 2020 Cocktail Recipes

Snowy River Cocktails, an award-winning line of all-natural cocktail decorating products including glitters, colorful salt and sugar rimmers and beverage colors as well as cocktail flavors and syrups, has released new cocktail recipes for Fall/Winter 2020. Recipes for coffee-rum Pirates Bounty, an Italian-inspired Chocolate Orange Martini, and rye-based local favorite, TheUnity, are now available at https://snowyrivercocktails.com/cocktail-ideas/.

Professional and amateur mixologists and bartenders use Snowy River Cocktails’ large range of products to create eye-catching cocktails and mocktails. The products are ideal for adding an extra element of color, sparkle and style in commercial and home bars as well as at special events, weddings, holiday dinners, gender reveals and more.

“These days, chefs and bartenders know that their food and beverage creations need to be as beautiful as they are tasty. It’s a great organic marketing tool for bars, restaurants and caterers to serve Instagram-ready food and drinks. Unique, beautifully colored cocktails are conversation-starters and they draw in crowds and new business,” said Stuart Cutler, founder of Washington-based Snowy River Cocktails. “The cocktails created with our products make any dinner or event really stand-out. The creative event host can find endless uses for them. From creating shimmering cocktails to match bridesmaid dresses at a wedding to dying beer in football team colors for a Super Bowl party to using one of our customizable edible cocktail topper designs to produce a spooky Halloween drink. The possibilities are endless.”

Snowy River Cocktails won six double gold medals at the 2019 PR%F Awards in Las Vegas. All of the family-owned business’ products are made in the USA, naturally colored using real fruit and vegetable-based colorants, gluten-free and certified Kosher by Va’ad Harabanim of Greater Seattle. Snowy River Cocktail Co currently retails and serves its signature cocktails at its two SRCC Craft Cocktail Bars in Washington: a Seattle flagship (2137 2nd Avenue) and a location in its hometown of Bellingham (100 N Commercial Street).

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SelfSafe – Personal Identification Bracelets

Imagine having all of your medical, financial, travel and personal information with you at all times. Safe and secure. Encrypted and password-protected. And no internet connection needed to access.

Meet SelfSafe, the stylish and sporty USB emergency ID bracelet designed to protect you and your family.

Wherever you are – at work or play – at home or abroad.

For more information click here

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Maple Flavored Bourbon Pecans – Sugar Plum

Want some crunchy and healthy snack on the go? Munch on our vegan-friendly Maple Flavoured Bourbon Pecans. Infused with natural maple flavor, the bourbon pecans taste delicious. And what’s the cherry on top? This one doesn’t contain any unhealthy fats, oils, or dairy products. So at times when you’re feeling terribly hungry at work, grab a few of these and you’re good to go. Each and every piece of pecan is generously coated with Bourbon Liquor, to bring about a delightful taste. So what are you waiting for? Grab a dozen bags– because we bet you won’t be satisfied with just one! Retails: 5 (3 ounce bags) for $24.99.

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Pumpkin Spice Almonds – Sugar Plum

Crunchy, tasty, vegan-friendly and packed full of flavor, Sugar Plum’s handcrafted Kettle-Cooked Pumpkin Spice Almonds are the undisputed taste-of-the-fall snacking champion! Generously coated with specially-crafted and tailor-made blend cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and other exotic spices which tastefully amplify the nutty flavor of the almonds to craft a pumpkin spice flavor that is second-to-none. The end result? A taste of the fall that conjures up the finest taste of the crisp fall air and all of the memories that come with it in every single bite, these Kettle-Cooked Pumpkin Spice Almonds are simply too scrumptious to put into words, no matter how much we try! Retails: 5 (3 ounce bags) for $24.99.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Bars – Sugar Plum

Your favorite fall beverage now has its own chocolate bar! Enjoy the scrumptious blend of coffee and pumpkin that only comes around for just a short time each and every year – all without having to visit your favorite barista. While we can’t promise the same jolt that your morning coffee can offer, we are sure that our Pumpkin Spice Latte bar will be just what you need to indulge in that perfect fall confection! Retails: 4-pack for $30.00.

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