Cooking Hacks To Make Life Easier This Thanksgiving

Culture
Food

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November 22, 2023

Cooking Hacks To Make Life Easier This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering friends and family together and have a good time with a delicious meal. It is supposed to be upbeat, heartwarming and fun, but if you are cooking it can be stressful. If you don’t cook on a regular basis, suddenly making a feast for 6, 10, or 18 can be overwhelming. Luckily, we have some cooking hacks to make life easier this Thanksgiving.

Before you start, figure out what you like to make and what you can farm out to others. Make a list, figure out some timing and recognize not everything is going to Instagram worthy.

Baking Powder In Your Mashed Potatoes

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Adding a pinch of baking powder while mashing your potatoes will make them way fluffier and better looking than normal, without disrupting the taste.

Write Out Recipes And Tape Them On Your Cabinets

This simple hack will allow you to narrow your focus on cooking and cooking only, saving you a lot of time while avoiding messy cookbooks or phones.

Potatoes Can Be Microwaved

Boiling potatoes takes a really long time and, in the end, you’re still gonna mash them so it’s fine to save some minutes by sticking them in the microwave. Heat each potato for about 3 or 4 minutes.

Slow-Roast The Turkey Overnight

Slow cooking is the best way to cook, leaving the meat soft, delicious and ready to peel off the bone. It’s also great to get the turkey out of the way and have it done early, avoiding Thanksgiving catastrophe.

Add Soy Sauce For A More Delicious gravy

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Soy sauce is a great condiment for a lot of things, especially when it comes to meat. If your gravy is a little simple and needs that extra kick, soy sauce will highlight the flavors in it and add some much needed saltiness.

Prep Veggies Ahead Of Time And Keep Them In The Fridge

Chopping up vegetables takes a lot of time and patience. Be sure to do this ahead of time and to store them in separate containers in the fridge, maintaining their crispiness, flavor and saving you a lot of time.

Don’t Peel Your Potatoes

Mashed potatoes with the skin on them are delicious so why would you even do that? If you’re very neat and really don’t like the skin then you can boil the potatoes and peel them afterwards, with the skin tearing off much more easily.

RELATED: Great Fall Whiskeys

Clean Your Potatoes In The Dishwasher

Instead of scrubbing each potato individually, stick them all in the dishwasher for a couple of minutes and have them ready for cooking.

Use A Wine Glass To Make Biscuits

If you don’t have a metal cutter, make do with whatever’s around your house. Wine glasses are the perfect shape for biscuits, so take advantage of them, dipping them in flour to keep the dough from sticking.

Freeze Pie Crust For Prettier Pies

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By freezing the rolled out pie crust for 20 minutes, you’ll allow the gluten in the dough to relax and to avoid shrinking when you put it in the oven.

Does Turkey REALLY Make You Sleepy

Sarah Johns

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November 22, 2023

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After the big Thanksgiving feast, you eyes start to droop – is it really the turkey’s fault.

Thanksgiving is known for the big meal! Turkey, ham, beef – all on the menu. Also included is stuffing and/or dressing, pies, a form of green beans and more carbs. All delicious and everyone is expected to have two plates before dessert. Afterwards, everyone waddles away from the table as eyes become droopy. But does turkey really make you sleepy?

Over 46 million turkeys will be served up on Thursday. And, it turns out, pumpkin is not the favorite pie. Apple pie is the overwhelming favorite followed by chocolate and pecan pie making pumpkin pie rank in at #4. Pumpkin gets the attention based on tradition it seems.

For generations, the turkey has been the villain of needing a nap after the feast, with some avoiding talking to difficult relatives, helping clear and wash, or just being a good guest. But it seems the bird got a bum rap. Morgan Pfiffner, a researcher with a masters degree in nutrition, shares the real story.

“Millions gather around the table to feast on mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, creamed corn, cranberry sauce and, of course, turkey. For some of us who overindulge, we are often left in a post-Thanksgiving food coma and have read that “something” in the turkey is the culprit of our drowsiness” shares Phiffner.

That something is a nutrient called tryptophan, but it’s not the only culprit. Tryptophan is one of the naturally occurring amino acids—the building blocks of proteins in our body. Turkey is a great source of this essential amino acid, but it is not the only source – many meats and other proteins have comparable amounts.

According to research, tryptophan is used by the human body to make serotonin, one of the “feel-good” hormones, which can calm and relax the body. However, we don’t consume nearly enough turkey during a holiday feast to have a major impact.

So what’s the real reason you get drowsy on Thanksgiving? It’s not so much what you eat, but how much you eat.

Thanksgiving dinner is usually a large meal, rich in carbs, fat, and protein. When this massive influx of calories reaches your intestines, a chemical called CCK (cholecystokinin) is released. CCK acts as a “fullness signal” that tells your brain that you’ve had enough to eat (keeping you from eating the third plate of food). But this CCK surge has another effect: it makes you feel sleepy, possibly as an evolved response so you’ll relax and let your body focus on digestion.

Of course, in some households, there is wine or drinks at the table. All the CCK and alcohol can add to the need for a nap. Alcohol is considered a depressant and directly affects the central nervous system. Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it circulates to the brain, where it proceeds to slow down the firing of neurons. When neuronal firings decrease at a normal rate, it can result in relaxation, fatigue, and sleepiness.

BTW…you can recreate Thanksgiving year round. In 1953, a Swanson employee accidentally ordered 260 tons extra of turkey. The frozen turkeys were taking up space in 10 refrigerated train cars when a salesman suggested preparing and packaging the turkey with sides in compartmentalized aluminum trays. Swanson sold 5,000 TV dinners in 1953. The following year, they sold 10 million. Today you can cook one and have Thanksgiving year round.

Tips For A Successful Thanksgiving Smoke Session

Maria Loreto

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November 22, 2023

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Tips For A Successful Thanksgiving Smoke Session

A weed walk around the neighborhood is one of the oldest Thanksgiving traditions. Here are some tips that can help you carry out a successful excursion.

Thanksgiving is an emotional time, for better or worse. No matter what your position is on it, whether you love it or it gives you anxiety, it’s never too late to add in new traditions into the mix. During Thanksgiving, when you’re spending time with loved ones, introducing weed into the mix could be a fun bonding activity. You just need to know how to do it.

Here are 5 things you should keep in mind in order to make the most out of your Thanksgiving weed excursion:

Make sure to have enough weed

3 Tips To Help You Stretch Your Weed And Save Money — Photo by Drew Farwell via Unsplash

First things first. If there’s no weed, there’s no weed smoking excursion. Be sure to hit up your old weed contacts once you get home or bring some weed with you. To be super safe, make sure you store it in an airtight container and leave it in places where your dad or your little cousin won’t find it. Because that would be bad.

Steer clear of fancy ways of consumption

5 Reasons Weed Is Not Affecting You — Photo by Sinitta Leunen via Unsplash

Keep things simple and steer clear of overtly complicated ways of consuming cannabis. Thanksgiving is a special occasion when it comes to weed usage; you might find yourself smoking with someone inexperienced, someone who’s older, etc. It’s best to stick to something that’s accessible for newbies and to eliminate the odds of getting bad highs. Prioritize accessibility, discretion, and how fast-acting the consumption method is.

Develop your own little private language

talking — Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor via Unsplash

If you’re going out smoking with family, have a little discussion beforehand and make sure to come up with the right excuse for when you’re going outside the house to smoke. By discussing things beforehand, you’ll eliminate nerves and make sure that no one misses out on the smoking opportunity and that everyone is on the same page.

Keep an open mind

We Don’t Talk Enough About Cannabis And Its Effect On The Sex Lives Of Seniors — Photo by Tyler Farmer via Unsplash

Each Thanksgiving is different. Make sure to keep an open mind and accept that maybe this year someone who you usually smoke with won’t want to join you, or that someone who’s never shown interest or who was too young before, might want to join in on the fun. Just roll with it.

Take a deep breath and get ready to eat

Thanksgiving dinner — Photo by Craig Adderley from Pexels

Lastly, get ready to reap the benefits you’ve been after. The munchies are normally great, but the munchies on Thanksgiving are some of the best there are. Enjoy your food and tune out your family members’ tone-deaf political and cultural opinions. Happy Thanksgiving!

Marijuana Can Make Your Holidays Better

Amy Hansen

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November 21, 2023

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The Holiday season is full of joy, merriment and good food – but sometimes you might need a light help to enjoy it all

It is a fun time of year, everyone in good cheer, holiday events, special food, and lots of bonding with people we may or may not know or like. Joyful, merry, and happy are all the ways we describe the season, but sometimes it might comes with a price. Stress, hangovers and anxiety are common, but marijuana can make your holiday better.

With some much going on, gifts to buy, cooking, visiting, and travel, perhaps the most common issue is lack of sleep. Consider using some form of marijuana to help to help you fall asleep. Using a few times to be able to break a sleepless pattern can be very help and make you feel like a new person.

Hangovers are common during the holidays as it has some of the biggest alcohol days of the year including New Year’s Eve and the day before Thanksgiving (Drinksgiving/ Blackout Wednesday), the day after Thanksgiving, and all the weekends with work and friend parties. Gummies and vapes are discrete ways to reduce drinking while still having a relaxed buzz to enjoy the work holiday party or the long family event where wine has traditional helped.

It can also help avoid the gentle weight gain from lots of cocktails, beer and wine. Mild dose cannabis can provide the buzz without major (and continuous) carlories. Also, with a mild dose, there is a lower chance of munchies, unlike after 3 martinis or Christmas-tinis.

And lastly cannabis has shown it can help reduce stress and anxiety. If you are shy and have to attend events, it can benefits. If you are at contentious family event, it can keep you calm. If you are worried about other things, it can relax you so you can make a plan on how to move forward.

Science has proven marijuana is better than alcohol for your body, the holiday is a perfect time to like cannabis use it’s super power.

The Best Ways To Recover From A Hangover

Anthony Washington

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November 21, 2023

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The Best Ways To Recover From A Hangover

The day before and after Thanksgiving are known for being HUGE drinking holidays. In fact the Wednesday before turkey day is known as Drinksgiving or Blackout Wednesday. After Friday comes the holiday season with parties, brunches, and happy hours, and maybe drinks with dinner, all leading to at least one hangover.

Alcohol triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system. In turn, the immune system may trigger certain agents that commonly produce physical symptoms including a headache, inability to concentrate, memory problems and nausea. Not a pretty picture, but here are the best ways to recover from a hangover.

There are two tracks to recover from a hangover – before and after. Assuming you are going to drink heavily, you have to remember two things. Drink plenty of fluids like water while imbibing to avoid dehydration. Next take a pain reliever — but not Tylenol. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, other brands), and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

A Hangover Pill — Photo by Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty Images

Also, avoid dark colored alcohol. Data has indicted clear liquors, such as vodka and gin, tend to cause hangovers less frequently than dark ones like whiskey, red wine, and tequila. The main form of alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, but the darker liquors contain chemically related compounds (congeners), including methanol. The same enzymes process ethanol and methanol, but methanol metabolites are especially toxic, so they may cause a worse hangover.

But, if you still wake up with a hangover, there is a hope and here are potential cures.

People forget to eat when they drink, lowering their blood sugar. Toast and juice is a way to gently nudge levels back to normal. This should be followed by a a big brunch or brunch.

Consider a gummy. A dose like 10mg will not only get you out of the painful headspace, it will begin to work on your inflammation as you get a body high. Use something non-aggressive like tincture (glycerin), a hard candy, or a beverage. Anything baked or food-like may just be overwhelming taste wise.

Enjoy soda, coffee or tea. Caffeine may not have any special anti-hangover powers, but as a stimulant, it could help with the grogginess. Try it and go back to bed and sleep for a bit.

Pop some vitamin B or Zinc. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Medicine evaluated the diets for 24 hours before and after excessive drinking occurred. It was a small study and results were based on the participants saying what they ate. However, they did find that people whose food and beverage consumption contained greater amounts of zinc and B vitamins had less severe hangovers.

RELATED: Great Fall Whiskeys

Since the hangover is at it’s most painful as the last of the alcohol is leaving your system, you could consider the age old cure of “hair of the dog” and have a Bloody Mary.

Walks With Weed Are Good For The Waist And Mind

Amy Hansen

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November 21, 2023

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Walks With Weed Are Good For The Waist And Mind

It is the time of year for sumptuous feasts, lots of drinks and chatting. This could be rough on your waist and your mindset…here is a solution

It is the most wonderful time of year, and also the most indulgent. Just one more drink, cookie, party…all effecting our mental health and waistlines. Stress increases around the holidays with 44% of women report an increase of stress during the holidays and 31% of men. For women, stress may be a function of greater family responsibilities during the holidays. Consider taking a stroll to how unwind. Walks with weed are good for the waist and mind.

Walking after eating can aid in digestion. It can help food move through the digestive system more rapidly and help reduce bloating. Walking provides other key benefits. Exercise helps the waist line and digestion which is helpful during a season filled with food and drink. It also increases your muscle flexibility. Another advantage is it gives your mind time to relax, absorb and process information.

If you use marijuana, pick energizing strains focused on joy-inducing properties which help walkers better enjoy their stroll time. And for those with difficulty or pain with walking , some strains provide a safe method to improve their walking abilities.

Walking can give your mind a moment and to unplug. The holidays can be very stimuli intense which can over stimulate our brain and doesn’t vive us Downtime replenishes the brain’s stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance and simply form stable memories in everyday life. It valuable during a busy and over stimulated season.

Marijuana can help with the stress and can make walks so much more pleasing. Gummies are extremely popular and it is a good way to manage a soft dose for a stroll. If you are going to on a walk after having some weed, keep to an easy course, don’t overdose and make sure you have a way to communicate with others in case something happens.

While walking with weed the air my seem fresher and the scenery a bit more beautiful, which can also reduce your anxiety and make for a better day.

Don’t Cook, 5 Things To Bring For Thanksgiving

Maria Loreto

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November 21, 2023

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Don’t Cook, 5 Things To Bring For Thanksgiving

One of the great roles of Thanksgiving is the guest! If you don’t cook or have time to create an insta-worthy creation to be share and documented for future generations, being a non-culinary guest is a treat. But you want to do it right and bring something which pleases the host and can be used appropriate. Don’t cook, 5 things to bring for Thanksgiving which will should be a hit!

Leftover containers

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Leftover containers are lifesavers on Thanksgiving parties, giving everyone the chance to take some food home after you’re all done hanging out. Disposable leftover containers can be purchased everywhere and in large amounts and might not be the prettiest, but are definitely the most useful contribution you can provide.

Flowers

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Flowers are always a great present for hosts, especially on Thanksgiving. This holiday encourages togetherness and positivity and flowers are the best embodiment of this message, never taking up much space and being malleable enough so hosts have some freedom with what they do with them.

Wine

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Wine is the official Thanksgiving alcoholic drink, making this the safest item on this list. Unless no one drinks – you can have a field day with this choice. Champagne is a great choice for pre-meal and post meal or a fun after dinner beverage like port or limoncello. Also digestifs are alcoholic beverages served after a meal to help settle the stomach and commence the digestion process. These beverages tend to be stronger in alcohol than apéritifs and are usually consumed neat

Dessert

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Thanksgiving dessert is a classic, much easier to transport than savory foods and providing an option to guests who want to have something sweet after all the food they had. There are dozens of Thanksgiving desserts that can be made from scratch or bought from a bakery.

Candles

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You might think candles are boring and they might be, at least a little bit, but there’s tons of options for the fall season that smell amazing and make homes feel cozy. Candles are a great present for homeowners, something that’ll last for a while and that they’ll love to have around their place.

Republicans Want Weed, But Does The GOP Care

Terry Hacienda

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November 20, 2023

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Republicans Want Weed, But Does The GOP Care

The majority of Republican voters are starting to annoy the DC GOP.

In the last couple of years, the elected members of the GOP have lukewarm, best about legal cannabis. Early on, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was the leader of the GOP’s policy including blocking weed, but he seems to slightly be losing his gip. The House passed SAFE Banking and has been very open to less restrictions on the cannabis industry providing more opportunities and tax revenue, but McConnell blocked the bill. Earlier this year, the Senate took up SAFER Banking only to have chaos in House delaying any action. Unfortunately for the GOP, the last Gallop polling shows republicans want weed, but does the GOP care?

The current House speaker, Mike Johnson (R-LA) has a very clear vision of the future and believes if he works hard enough, he will be able put now laws and restrictions in place to do it. turns out 55% of Republicans support legal weed, but does their party’s majority focus matter to the electeds?

The recent two elections show the GOP seems to be out of step with enough of their base to hand them election failures. Speaker Johnson doesn’t smoke, swear, drink or use banks. But the good news he has shown a certain willingness to work with Democrats around budget.

Congress Approves CBD Use For Military Members — Photo by uschools/Getty Images

If Johnson is open to budget deals, passing SAFER Banking in the Senate will be a benefit for state via the tax revenue and the economy. SAFER Banking will be help the cannabis industry continue to grow providing more job and cash into the economy. Despite the constant increase of new customers, the onerous federal and state legal issues puts a drag on the legal marijuana industry and has a direct hit to bottom lines.

The Biden administration has begun the process of changing the classification of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. In summer, the Department of Health and Human Services — after conducting a scientific review — recommended that marijuana be moved to Schedule III. The Drug Enforcement Administration is now tasked with making the final decision, likely to come in the first half of next year.

Other good news is there is now a significant chuck of the alcohol and tobacco industry are vested in the cannabis world and legalization only benefits those industry’s bottom line.

If the GOP wants to start winning elections, they are going to have start listening to voters. And legal marijuana and medical marijuana is probably the safest first step.

Ready For Green Wednesday

Sarah Johns

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November 20, 2023

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Cyber Monday and Black Friday aren’t the only big holidays for fans of marijuana – hello Green Wednesday

Up until around 2010, Black Friday was the mega shopping day of the year. It was a combination of festive cheer, mega deals and, at times, a MMA brawl. Stories emerged of fights and chaos as shoppers rushed to get the best prices. Then online shopping soared and Cyber Monday became a rival for gift purchases and deals to be had. But are you ready for Green Wednesday? Yes, Green Wednesday is when the cannabis industry goes wild.

To be fair, Green Wednesday is the third biggest marijuana shopping day of the year….behind 4/20 and Black Friday (right?). BDSA, a leading cannabis data analyst company shared this information about consumer trends.

“Green Wednesday and Black Friday consistently experience the highest surge in cannabis sales of any holiday, other than 420,” said Brendan Mitchel-Chesebro, analyst at BDSA. “These insights are important for retailers looking to optimize their holiday strategies. By preparing for increased foot traffic with increased staff and an ample supply of popular products instead of leaning into promotions, retailers will win with consumers this holiday season.”

Marijuana is following a trend. The third biggest alcohol day of the year, meanwhile, was the day before Thanksgiving. It has been nicknamed “Drinksgiving” or “Blackout Wednesday,” and is becoming an increasingly popular drinking holiday. Poughkeepsie, Boston, Houston, Portland, OR, and Wichita, KS excel in this new holiday.

Green Wednesday can see an over 66% increase in sales for the day. If you want to bring something unique to Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving, you can always bring an infused canned turkey gravy. Yes, there are such things. But the most popular, by far according to BDSA, are gummies. The perfect hostess gift if you know they enjoy a little chill time.

Not only is there a rush to purchase, some dispensaries offer deals – always a plus during the holiday season. To maximize your chance for value, sign up for your favorite dispensary email, talk to the budtender leading up the Green Wednesday and be open to trying new things.

As you get ready for Green Wednesday, have a great chill Thanksgiving

Crazy Trend Of Pumpkin Spice Alcohol and Marijuana

Sarah Johns

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November 20, 2023

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Crazy Trend Of Pumpkin Spice Alcohol and Marijuana

It is a crazy popular and one of Starbucks best sellers of all time…but Pumpkin Spice alcohol and marijuana?

Starbucks unleaded it into the world with the famous latte, now there is soap, candles, room fresheners and even an herb packs. Now there is a crazy trend of pumpkin spice alcohol and marijuana. Yes both industries are riding the autumn wave of flavor need and producing products.

The day before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest drinking days of the year. It has been nicknamed “Drinksgiving” or “Blackout Wednesday”. And Green Wednesday is the third biggest marijuana shopping day of the year….behind 4/20 and Black Friday. We confirmed the trend with BDSA, a leading cannabis data analyst company.

Here are some of the Pumpkin Spice treats you can find.

Alcohol

Bailey’s has jumped into the autumn mix, it wasn’t enough with regular, chocolate, and a wacky Pina Colada, they now have have just the gourd frenzy. Bailey’s thought is for autumn, they have spiced up Baileys with a twist of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, with every mouthful exploding like a tasty firework on a chilly night.

Not to be outdone, Captain Morgan has “Jack-Blast: – a pumpkin spice rum! They share it is the perfect shot to celebrate the end of an epic night or to toast the adventures that await this holiday season.

Vodka had to jump into the pumpkin patch and Pinnacle released their own flavor. Their weet, well-rounded flavor of creamy pumpkin filling with hints of flaky crust and whipped cream topping. Smooth pumpkin flavor with a touch of spice and whipped cream

Marijuana

Not to be outdone, the marijuana industry also taking to carving a slice of the trend. There is Pumpkin Spice marijuana seeds are a feminized strain

Colorado’s Native Roots is releasing its pumpkin spice marijuana vape pen cartridges and expects a boon of sales on Green Wednesday. The flavors of pumpkin pie – cinnamon, ginger, anise and clove — are actually natural chemical compounds in cannabis, making it more enjoyable.

Of course, the most popular used version of marijuana are gummies – and company are taking advantage of it. Tillman Tranquils has a Pumpkin Spice gummies at a 15mg does. The sativa treat will help you manage the holiday stress.

It seems the pumpkin spice crazy is here to stay.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Baking Powder In Your Mashed Potatoes

Write Out Recipes And Tape Them On Your Cabinets

Potatoes Can Be Microwaved

Slow-Roast The Turkey Overnight

Add Soy Sauce For A More Delicious gravy

Prep Veggies Ahead Of Time And Keep Them In The Fridge

Don’t Peel Your Potatoes

Clean Your Potatoes In The Dishwasher

Use A Wine Glass To Make Biscuits

Freeze Pie Crust For Prettier Pies

After the big Thanksgiving feast, you eyes start to droop – is it really the turkey’s fault.

A weed walk around the neighborhood is one of the oldest Thanksgiving traditions. Here are some tips that can help you carry out a successful excursion.

Make sure to have enough weed

Steer clear of fancy ways of consumption

Develop your own little private language

Keep an open mind

Take a deep breath and get ready to eat

The Holiday season is full of joy, merriment and good food – but sometimes you might need a light help to enjoy it all

It is the time of year for sumptuous feasts, lots of drinks and chatting. This could be rough on your waist and your mindset…here is a solution

Leftover containers

Flowers

Wine

Dessert

Candles

The majority of Republican voters are starting to annoy the DC GOP.

Cyber Monday and Black Friday aren’t the only big holidays for fans of marijuana – hello Green Wednesday

It is a crazy popular and one of Starbucks best sellers of all time…but Pumpkin Spice alcohol and marijuana?

Alcohol

Marijuana

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