Cannabis Health / Articles - No Fail Brownies

Cannabis Health / The Canadian Medical Marijuana Journal

by Arlene Smith

As a chocolate lover, taking my muscle relaxant or sleep aid medicine by way of these delicious brownies is much more appealing than choking down prescription pills. I control exactly how much medication I ingest by choosing the size and number of brownies. Being a small person with an active metabolism, these babies will wipe me right out within an hour of ingestion and I am eager for bed. With only one income in our family, using medical marijuana regularly can become quite a financial sacrifice - so can prescription drugs, for that matter. Smoking anything is damaging to the lungs, but the elimination of papers, which often contain chemical residues, can be an important issue for immune systems that are already fighting pain, insomnia or illness. And prescription drugs tend to harbor undesirable effects from long-term use. All of these issues are settled by making these tasty treats.

Place dried leaf (obtained during the harvesting and trimming processes) on a fine screen and rub the leaves through - this step removes large fibers. If you use flour left over from making keef the screening can be skipped. Then, run the keef through a blender to make a fine flour and store in a recycled peanut butter or mayonnaise container. These healthy brownies not only extend the value of marijuana, but also reduce the waste formally destined for the compost heap.

Being a fudgy, chocolaty dessert, this brownie recipe makes for a pleasant medication and yields quite a number of squares that can be frozen for future use. The danger lies in the temptation to consume several, but it is important to remember that the number and size of squares to take will depend on your body type and medication needs. Treat them responsibly, as you would prescription drugs.

A good example of this problem is a story I heard recently from a reliable source. After receiving no relief from his doctors, a desperate man decided to try medical marijuana. He was given a package of brownies to go home and try, with admonishment regarding the dosage. They were too good, unfortunately, because this man and his wife succumbed to temptation and consumed many of them in one evening. Being unfamiliar with the effects, they became worried enough to admit themselves into hospital! Now, the same thing could happen if you took a handful of prescription drugs, rather than the recommended dosage.

Similarly, don’t expect to drive or operate machinery and don’t mix with alcohol. You can eat these on either a full or empty stomach. On an empty stomach, there will be quicker digestion and more immediate, stronger effects - you may notice a warm feeling in your stomach. For myself (5'2", 112 lbs.), my high metabolism requires only one 1 1/2" square for a mild muscle relaxant or sleep aide. For heavier medication, I have eaten as much as twice that amount, but find I am groggy in the morning. My husband (6'2", 170 lbs.), takes two 1 1/2" squares for a mild insomnia aid and to ease the effects of his tenitis. I recommend that you take only one 1" square brownie - wait a couple hours and see how you feel. Others may argue with me here, but I feel this is something you want to consume when you are in a secure, restful environment - like in the evening at your home.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9"x13" pan, or two cake pans. Place about 2 tbsp of white flour in the pan, tap the edges and turn the pan until the flour coats all the grease. Dump excess flour into the other pan and repeat.

In a medium bowl with high sides use an eggbeater to beat the oil and sugar together well. Beat in one egg at a time. Beat in salt and vanilla. Place a fine sieve over the bowl and with a spoon work the cocoa through it. Beat well.

In a separate bowl, mix the flours and baking powder with a strong spatula. Combine the dry and wet ingredients. Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a dry butter knife in the centre of the pan. If it comes out clean, your brownies are done. If not, give it a few more minutes cooking time. Remove from the oven and set on some wire racks, where they can cool completely before attempting to remove them from the pans.

Removing from pans can sometimes be tricky, often the centre will stick. There are a few tricks to help with this. First, run a butter knife all around the edges and lift the corners up a little. Place your hand over the cake for support, invert the pan and tap firmly on the bottom. Little gentle shakes from side to side can help. You should feel it begin to loosen now. Sometimes it will pop out nicely. If not, you may need to employ the aid of a small spatula to help pry it out. Now, if it breaks in half upon removal (and this has happened) simply trim the broken edge so it has a clean cut and carry on. But if the cake refuses to leave the pan, cut your squares and remove one at a time with your spatula - the first one or two may get mangled, but the rest should come out looking beautiful. If you have cooked them a little too long, the edges may get over-done; simply trim them away.

Okay, so you have your cake removed and placed right side up on a cutting board. Cut with a long sharp knife into squares. Don’t use a little knife, as the sawing motion will cause the edges to crumble. Instead, use one you can press through the whole cake, with one hand on the dull side to aid the cut. Separate and freeze (using wax paper to separate layers). If you have chosen to frost the brownies, it is wise to freeze them on a cookie sheet before placing in the container. This step will protect your frosting design while allowing you to stack them in layers.

Variations:
Marijuana Brownie Substitute white flour and white sugar for brown sugar and whole-wheat flour for a less healthy and slightly fudgier brownie.

Add 3/4 cup finely chopped peanuts, walnuts or almonds.
Frost them with butter icing or drizzle with melted dark or white chocolate.
Omit the marijuana flour, increase flour by 1 tblsp and serve as a dessert - rather than a medication. Be sure to label them clearly. To be even more sure, I use a frosting code (green for marijuana/white for plain) and do not drizzle chocolate on the plain ones as well. These steps help me to eliminate confusion or mishaps.

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