American expat writer and bohemian socialite Gertrude Stein is best remembered for her patronage of the arts, literary wit and fearless candor. Stein and her life partner, Alice B. Toklas, lived a colorful life in Paris for forty years, hosting a parade of impressive friends at their home, including Hemingway, Picasso and Fitzgerald. Though Stein was the bigger personality of the couple, Toklas made her mark in culinary history when she published “The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook” in 1954. Both a collection of eclectic French recipes and a narrative account of Toklas and Stein’s life together (Stein passed in 1946), the cookbook is often remembered for it’s most famous recipe – the original pot brownie.
The historic recipe, passed onto Toklas by a Moroccan artist and friend, is labeled “Hashish Fudge.” Toklas recommends preparing alongside “large quantities of mint tea,” as a preventive remedy for the common cold and “entertaining refreshment for a ladies bridge club.”
Though mysteriously containing no chocolate, Toklas calls the fudge “the food of paradise.” The recipe reads like a collection of ingredients one might collect on trip to the space market – whole nutmeg, a cinnamon stick, peppercorns and a handful of dried fruit and shelled nuts. On publication of the cookbook, Toklas was shocked that her editors pulled the recipe from American editions due the innocent incorporation of finely ground hashish. Toklas would be happy to know that decades later, zillions of weed-friendly Americans have happily indulged in chocolate-hearty adaptations of her beloved hashish fudge.
Thinking beyond brownies, I couldn’t help but notice that Toklas’ original version mimics the healthy snacks touted by today’s anti-grain, high-protein paleo craze. By re-appropriating Toklas’ original recipe for modern palates, these edible cannabis Paleo Bites are a grain-free, dairy-free, chocolate-free medicinal snack that will power you through the day. A cinch to whip up, use cannabis coconut oil and whatever fruit and nuts you have in the pantry – Alice B. Toklas would approve. Enjoy!
Cannabis Paleo Bites
Adapted from PaleoLeap.com
Ingredients:
- 2 cups walnuts, chopped
• 1 cup dried Medjool dates, roughly chopped
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup small unsweetened coconut flakes
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ cup cannabis coconut oil
Instructions:
- Crack two eggs in a small bowl and whisk thoroughly.
- Combine beaten eggs, cannabis coconut oil, honey and dates in a medium saucepan placed over a medium-low heat. Carefully bring to a boil, increasing heat as needed – make sure you the eggs don’t cook!
- Once the liquid is simmering, stir frequently for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, sea salt, walnuts and coconut flakes. Roll the mixture into small balls. Refrigerate until firm. Enjoy!
Written by Nora Mounce
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