Cannabis-Infused Comfort Food

When life gets too much, sometimes we just want a delicious meal that reminds us of easier times. This is that.

A mellow fireplace on a cool night; our favorite song at just the right time; a hot bowl of soup when our noses are running green. There are some things that we can all agree make us feel good when we’re down. One of those things is comfort food. And for some, another is cannabis.

A plethora of comfort foods have been handed down from generation to generation. Now, with the expansion of the legalized cannabis market, there seems to be a whole new branch of comfort foods available. The combination of these two makes for the ultimate pick-me-up.

Why Infuse Comfort Foods With Cannabis?

To understand why someone would want to infuse a classic dish with cannabis, it’s important to look at their need for comfort food. According to Psychology Today^[1]https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201609/5-reasons-why-we-crave-comfort-foods people seek comfort foods for five reasons:

1. To feel good
2. For self-medication
3. To connect with family
4. Nostalgia eating
5. Special occasions

Here, we’ll look at a few ailments that might lead people to seek comfort foods for the first two reasons.

In Western culture, there are an increasing number of people suffering from depression and anxiety. In fact, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America notes that the most common mental illness in the United States is anxiety. Per an article published in Medical News Today, one poll found that self-reported afflictions from anxiety rose by five percent from 2017 to 2018. And in medical terms, that’s not insubstantial.

Infusing Comfort Foods with Cannabidiol

Cannabidiol often goes by its more well-known name, CBD. It’s a compound derived from cannabis that has no psychoactive properties. It’s increasingly used to treat depression and anxiety. Many swear by it – especially when paired with comfort food!

A 2014 study published in CNS and Neurological Disorders Drug Targets demonstrated a variety of ways that CBD acts as an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medicine. Their results showed that CBD consumption improved social life, productivity, and health and animal models.

However, a 2018 study was more specific. Sales et al. published their findings in Molecular Neurobiology where they noted that CBD “induces fast and sustained antidepressant-like effect in distinct animal models relevant for depression.”

Since CBD works quickly with depression, and with a variety of anxiety disorders—according to 2015 research published in Neurotherapuetics—adding it to comfort food, which also relieves anxiety, is a quick and sustainable way to maintains one’s health.

Two Awesome Recipes for CBD-Infused Comfort Foods

When creating comfort foods infused with cannabis, it’s vitally important to use fresh, premium ingredients. Poor, low-quality foods won’t deliver the same type of nutritional load as the freshest ingredients on the market. So, use the best food you can find or afford when making your CBD-infused comfort foods.

Here are two awesome CBD-infused comfort food recipes!

Old-Fashioned, Skillet-Prepared, CBD-Infused Mac and Cheese

Recipe altered from: https://www.theorganickitchen.org/old-fashioned-skillet-macaroni-and-cheese/

Ingredients

• 1 pound of macaroni, curly pasta, or small noodle of your choice
• 2 tbsp canna-oil
• ½ cup green onions, sliced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
2. Boil a large pot of water and cook the pasta per the directions. Once finished, drain and set aside.
3. Warm milk in a small pot over medium heat.
4. In a skillet, heat the CBD-oil. Add the green onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes until slightly soft.
5. Add flour and whisk until smooth.
6. Slowly add milk to the skillet, whisking continuously.
7. Add four cups of cheese one handful at a time into the mixture, whisking continuously.
8. Continue whisking until the cheese sauce is melted and smooth.
9. Season with salt and pepper.
10. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet mixture. Stir all ingredients until they are thoroughly combined.
11. Sprinkle the last cup of cheddar over the macaroni and cheese.
12. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
13. Garnish as desired and serve!

Homemade Chicken Soup Infused with CBD

Recipe borrowed from: https://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2014/03/best-homemade-chicken-noodle-soup.html

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp canna-oil
• 8 oz. dried egg noodles
• 10 cups chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
• Spices to taste: salt, freshly cracked black pepper, chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Heat canna-oil in a large pot.
2. Add bay leaf, thyme, celery, carrots, onion, and garlic. Stir to coat.
3. Cook over med-high heat for about 9 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in spices to taste.
5. When the veggies are soft, remove bay leaf and thyme.
6. Add chicken stock, and bring the mixture to a boil.
7. Reduce heat, then add the noodles. Cook until soft.
8. Add chicken. Stir and cook for 3-5 minutes.
9. More spice to taste.
10. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed these recipes, let us know about your own special CBD recipe in the comments!