Halfway through the week and it seems the Friday night is about 5 days away. Here is a guide to potential help.
Wednesdays are neither here nor there. It feels like being stuck in limbo, the furtherest away from the glorious weekends. In a happiness search, two American applied mathematicians, analyzed words used in 2.4 million internet social media sites. They gave a score out of nine depending on how positive they were. Professors Christopher Danforth and Peter Dodds, of Vermont University, gave words like free, fun, rainbow and sex 8+ score, while words such as betray, cruel, hatred and suffocate all scored less than two. Wednesday turned out to be the saddest day. So here are the best strain for Wednesday to pick you up.
It tend to be the roughest day of the week emotionally, so here are the BEST cannabis strains for Wednesday.
Cannabis has different strains. Picking the right one is crucial for one to get the feeling you are looking for. One can choose to go with those containing THC or the ones which do not have this component such as CBD oil.
Know the options available
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The three significant strains of marijuana are Indica, Sativa, and hybrid. Hybrid is a combination of the two major strains, Sativa and Indica. It elicits mixed reactions for the body and mind since the two mixed to form the blend affect the user differently. Sativa strains have an energizing effect on the user, influencing them to be active and take part in different activities. Indica, on the other hand, is more relaxing and after using any of the strains in this family, the user tends to be laid back with a deep sense of relaxation. The choice between the two depends on personal preference and the feeling one is looking wants to achieve.
After knowing the significant types available, one ought to dive deep to understand the strains and the category they fall into. The purpose of the cannabis will help one decide on the strain to buy as they are knowledgeable about how they work. Availability of a strain in one’s locality is among the factors involved. But most dispensaries will have something close.
Identify the smell
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Each of the products that are available in the market has a distinct smell. Some have sweet and fruity notes, while others have an earthy smell. Other strains have a skunky smell that hangs around and makes it easier for others to tell that one is using cannabis. Choosing the smell is dependent on individual tastes. Knowing the smell of the product you want to buy is essential as it will affect usage among other factors.
Although the research is important, one should not rely on the information they get only. When buying from a brick and mortar store, a visit to the premises will help one make the perfect pick. Examining the product and asking the budtender about the products they have will help one make an informed choice.
Teen vaping is on the rise. But is it safer than smoking tobacco? A new survey has the answer.
WIth marijuana use on the upswing and nicotine looking more like yesterday, a study reveals is THC or nicotine risker for youth. Conducted by the University of Michigan and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the study examined the association between respiratory symptoms in adolescents who were users of cigarettes and vapes using THC and/or nicotine oil.
Using survey results, researchers found that when vaping cannabis, adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 had a greater chance of sustaining lung injury through dry coughs, wheezing and other symptoms that had an effect in their speech, sleep, and exercise. The extent and duration of these symptoms are unknown.
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“We found, and it was something that surprised us a bit, that it was the lifetime vaping cannabis that was associated with a far greater number of symptoms and a higher likelihood of having each of these symptoms than using either e-cigarettes or cigarettes,” lead author Carol Boyd told U.S. News.
Results from the survey were compiled from December 2016 to January 2018, before the appearance of EVALI — the vaping illness that affected a large percentage of consumers. Boyd explained that some of the symptoms that were reported in the survey were likely associated with EVALI, which effected mainly THC vape users.
E-cigarettes and vapes are relatively new technologies that, while eliminating lung irritants such as smoke and paper, add in a variety of elements and chemicals that are harmful and aren’t all that understood. As for this survey, the concluding data contradicts the common perception that vaping and smoking nicotine is worse for your lungs than vaping and smoking THC.
“In short, it is all bad but if you also vape cannabis you have a greater number of unhealthy respiratory symptoms than if you just smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape e-cigarettes,” Boyd said. “Without a doubt, cigarettes and e-cigarettes are unhealthy and not good for lungs. However, vaping marijuana appears even worse.”
Marijuana has a distinctive tell tail smell, but what is the best way to rid yourself of the odor?
Smoking marijuana is one of the most difficult activities to hide, not only because of the goofiness and the red eyes most likely ensuing, but also because of the smell. One joint can permeate an entire bedroom, bathroom, car, or apartment, especially if the weed is particularly strong and there’s a lot of residual produced.
Instead of locking yourself up and trying to keep the smell of weed locked in, there are ways of hiding your high and avoiding the distinct smell of weed after smoking. In fact, hotboxing, whether you do it in your bedroom or car, is almost impossible to hide, because the smoke permeates to your clothes.
Experience and a calm disposition is usually what makes your act seem more passable, and there are several tricks that can help you disguise your high. First, you must tend to your eyes, which are usually dead giveaways. Carry eye drops of whatever brand works for you, in your car and house, applying them after smoking. This can help you feel more comfortable and in control. When it comes to disguising marijuana smell, gum or mints always work. You can also use mouthwash if you want to be even more thorough.
If you still feel like you smell of weed, try washing your face and neck, which will clear some of the haze and get rid of any smell attached to you. If you’re not near a sink, keep some baby wipes around.
Photo by Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash
Depending on how you smoke, you should also account for your hands and how they smell. Rolling and smoking joints will leave your hands smelly, so carry hand sanitizer or lotion, which can disguise everything. If vaping, you won’t have less to be concerned, just ensure to aim the smoke away from your clothes, preferably vaping in an open space.
As a finishing touch, a dash of perfume or cologne will ensure that there are no remains of weed smell. If you’re trying to get rid of weed smell in your bedroom or car, Febreze and open windows are the way to go. If the two smells mix up, at least whoever comes in the space or walks by you will be confused and will have some trouble localizing the source of the smell.
Making edibles doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when using ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
Cooking and baking usually takes time and effort – not to mention shopping. But some of hte best recipes use things already to a stocked kitten. Making edibles is usually a process that takes some time and work. Unlike lighting a joint and reaping instant benefits, edibles demand a lot of care. BUT, here are 5 edibles you can make with simple ingredients usually found in the kitchen.
In order to prepare edibles, it’s important to start off slowly. Cooking tends to be a trial and error process; once you add cannabis into the mix, it’s even more personal and less accurate. Before preparing any edible, you must decarboxylate. If you skip this step, your brownies are going to taste just like raw cannabis. Here’s how to make them taste less like weed, you’ve just wasted a good amount of cannabis, which is not fun.
Cannabutter
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Cannabutter is the basis of most edibles, especially the really good ones. This is where the concentration of weed is, so it’s kind of the most important part of the process. We suggest preparing a good batch of cannabutter ahead of time and to refrigerate it afterwards, so you can use it for preparing other edibles. You can also add it on some toast if you want to have a fun morning. It’s 2020, go for it.
Firecrackers are a stoner staple, primarily because they’re super easy to make and also because they taste like peanut butter. To prepare them, you only need peanut butter, graham crackers and decarboxylated weed. Coat the graham crackers with a good amount of peanut butter — the fattier the better — and sprinkle in about half a gram of ground flower per serving. Make sure the weed and the peanut butter are evenly mixed. Wrap your cracker in tin foil. Pre-heat your oven to 320 degrees and let the crackers cook for about 25 minutes.
If you want to be safe and get a taste for flavor and dosage before you dive in, measure your weed and prep two versions of firecrackers — one with a high dosage and another one with a low dose. You can also cut the cracker into four and eat each piece slowly, keeping track of how you feel.
Bacon
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Bacon is delicious, but what makes it a great weed partner is the fact that it’s greasy and has a strong flavor that can sort of mask marijuana’s natural essence. You can get creative with your weed bacon by cooking it with a touch of cannabutter or baking it with some decarboxylated weed.
Weed ice cream is a little more elaborate than weed bacon and firecrackers. There are different ways to make marijuana infused ice cream — there are some great recipes out there — but the most basic one is to melt heavy cream and cannabutter and to mix them together. As they cook and combine, add sugar according to taste. This mixture can be tinkered with until you have something you like. You can incorporate nuts, fruits, cereals, and whatever else that sounds good to you. Freeze overnight.
Brownies
Photo by skeeze via Pixabay.
Weed brownies are very malleable, which makes them so popular. You can make them by using your favorite recipe and replacing the butter with cannabutter, or you can make one of the many recipes that weed chefs have uploaded online. Or you can just make regular brownies and drizzle a bit of cannabutter over them while they’re warm. This last method is a little conservative but it ensures that you have control over your high and don’t ruin a perfectly decent batch of brownies. (Looking for more inspo? Try the only pot brownie recipe you’ll ever need.)
Proper education is the best method for preventing youngsters from experimenting with drugs and alcohol
With 23 recreational legal states and 40 medical, more parents are now worried their kids will be able to acquire weed easier than ever before. It is a perfectly natural reaction. After all, no mother or father wants to think that progressive drug policies might harm their children and put them on the path to addiction. But there was no change in the prevalence use among teens.
Despite what some law enforcement agencies, local health officials and politicians might have to say on the matter, there really isn’t any evidence of increased use in adolescents in legal states. And in a surprise, In the first quarter of 2023, an impressive 72% of Wellness Seekers reported consuming less alcohol, a significant increase from 67% in mid-2021. However, it’s the rise of cannabis as a preferred substitute for alcohol that marks a meaningful trend
Federal health agencies have collected data over the years that show this to be true. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health say that marijuana legalization has not caused an uptick in youth consumption rates. At least that is what the agencies found in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon, which were the first states to legalize for recreational use. In some cases, legalization actually lowered consumption rates among teens.
But marijuana legalization isn’t guaranteed to keep young people from experimenting with weed. We know this is true by examining how teens have taken to alcohol despite it being legal for decades.
Although both alcohol and marijuana laws require a person to be at least 21-years-old to purchase legal products, that doesn’t stop highly motivated minors from scoring them when they want to.
National statistics show that nearly 60% of teens have had at least one drink at some point. Meanwhile, around 7 million of them under the age of 21 have imbibed in a “few sips” of alcohol within the past month. When it comes to marijuana, somewhere around 13% of the adolescent population uses it — legal or not. This is down a few points from 2002, before statewide legalization began to take hold.
So does legalization really cause a decrease in youth consumption?
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Many additional studies published over the years argue that it might. One body of research, in particular, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs, finds that marijuana legalization doesn’t seem to be making it easier for children to get weed.
“Between 2002 and 2015, we observed a 27% overall reduction in the relative proportion of adolescents ages 12-17-and a 42% reduction among those ages 12-14-reporting that it would be ‘very easy’ to obtain marijuana. This pattern was uniformly observed among youth in all sociodemographic subgroups. … Despite the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in some states, our findings suggest that … perceptions that marijuana would be very easy to obtain are on the decline among American youth.”
These findings have been relatively consistent too.
Last year, a report from the National Institutes of Health found that youth consumption rates have not spiked in Colorado since its retail cannabis market launched in 2014. In fact, the state is slightly under the national average. It means that states like South Dakota and Montana, which just legalized in the November election, shouldn’t have to worry about teens going wild for weed.
Of course, just because national drug data shows promising results, parents shouldn’t take their hands off the wheel and hope for the best. Legal or not, proper education is the best method for preventing youngsters from experimenting with drugs and ending up with substance abuse issues later in life. But rest easy knowing that legalization isn’t going to make prevention any more difficult.
NYC seems to be good on concept policy, very bad at implementing
Fresh off the recreational marijuana policy which is costing legal business 10s of millions of dollars, New York City has entered into another policy debacle. It seems the the makers of policy in the Big Apple and Empire State live in a utopia where they can develop the best, most wholesome policy without any concern. Then WHAM, it is put out into the real world and becomes the subject for stand up comedy.
New York’s beleaguered rollout of a recreational marijuana marketplace was dealt another setback when a state Supreme Court justice issued an injunction that will block regulators from processing new applications for retail licenses under a program that the judge said is in “legal jeopardy.” After developing a policy, having buy-in from the cannabis business community, especially those holding medical marijuana license, it was all scrapped at the very last minute to become a free for all. This resulted in over 1,500 healthy, profitable unlicensed dispensaries opening in NYC alone, including near City Hall. And none paying city or state taxes.
Now the focus is short-term rentals in the New York City with a special target on AirBnB.
The city will begin enforcing its Short-Term Rental Registration Law Sept. 5, requiring short-term rental hosts to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement. The law, which was adopted in January 2022, could significantly reduce visitors’ choices when it comes to lodging. Common sense says if you are going to start enforcing a law, you need to have the staffing to make it happen and ensure a smooth transition.
The number of short-term listings on Airbnb has fallen by more than 80 percent, from 22,434 in August to just 3,227 by October 1, according to Inside Airbnb, a watchdog group that tracks the booking platform. But just 417 properties have been registered with the city, suggesting that very few of the city’s short-term rentals have been able to get permission to continue operating.
Like the marijuana industry, rental hosts are being clever and also realize the understaffed city doesn’t really have much bite to their bark. Hosts are using social media to rent directly to customers (you can only imagine the results for some of those guests) and smaller sites are seeing an uptick with new registrations. The crackdown in New York has created a “black market” for short-term rentals, not unlike the marijuana industry.
The supply and demand of hotels and AirBnB have not changed, rather they have just partial become illegal. The end losers of the game, most likely tourism for the city.
Trying marijuana for the first time? Here’s how to get that high you’re seeking.
Smoking marijuana is the most popular and readily-available way of consuming weed, especially for first-timers. Joints, bowls and bongs is the traditional, old school method espoused by the faithful, the expert and sometime theS Newby. Still, you’d be surprised by the amount of misinformation that people believe, even those who’ve used weed for long periods of time.
To avoid bad advice and have a great time, here is list of things to avoid when smoking marijuana for the first time. Follow this and it can help you achieve the high you aspire to.
Smoking a joint like it’s a cigar
You’re not supposed to smoke a joint like a mob boss by keeping the smoke swirling inside your mouth. In order for the drug to have an effect on you, you have to inhale the smoke all the way down to your lungs. There’s also a pervasive belief that the longer you hold the smoke in, the stronger its effect will be. This is not true, you’ll only be feeling lightheaded because you’re depleting your brain of oxygen.
Marijuana users have different stories when it comes to their first few times getting high, with many of them getting too high and paranoid. This happens because it’s hard knowing what you’re supposed to feel the first time you smoke weed, leading people to overdo it in order to ensure that they get high. Take it slow and let the THC do its job.
Now knowing how to use the carb
Your carb is that little hole in the side of your bong or pipe. You’re supposed to cover it as you light up, so that smoke accumulates, and then release it so you can inhale. Carbs are very misunderstood, and they can be the reason why some people don’t make the best out of their cannabis.
While you don’t need to be an expert on strains and their components, it’s important to know the basics of the two most common types of marijuana. Indicas are more mellow, and affect your body physically, leaving you relaxed and ready to chill out in the couch. Sativas are more intense and activate your brain, which makes them a great partner for parties and doing other types of active stuff. For newcomers who are afraid of getting a bad high, indicas are a more safe choice because they offer a smaller chance of getting paranoid.
Freaking out
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If the freakout comes, it’s important to remember that if you only smoked marijuana there’s nothing to worry about. The anxiety and paranoia will pass, and in an hour (tops) you’ll feel way better. In the meantime, distract yourself with your pet, take a nap, watch a show or some cute cat videos and all be well.
It also helps for first timers to smoke with people they trust, someone who’ll be able to calm them down if they start getting too antsy.
Packing the bowl wrong
If you’re chopping up your weed with scissors and then stuffing the pieces carelessly into your bowl, the marijuana gods are giving you the stink eye. Be sure to use a grinder or be very thorough with your cutting, preferably using your fingers. Put the right amount of weed in your bowl or joint, allowing some breathing room for the particles. The bowl or joint should be snug but air should be able to circulate. Tear, cut or grind: How do you break up your bud?
Using a bad lighter
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The fumes from matches and heavy butane lighters will ruin the quality and taste of your marijuana and will also mess with your lungs, so try to buy a reliable and simple lighter. This small factor will improve your experience dramatically.
Torching the bowl
We all torch the bowl at some point, lighting up the center of it and accidentally burning the whole batch of weed. While there won’t be an actual fire, lighting up right in the middle ruins the bowl for other people, tampering with the marijuana flavor. You should curb your bowl, lighting up the corners of it so everyone can have a turn and your weed can last for longer periods of time.
Your marijuana must be stored in a dark cool place inside an airtight container. This will help in preserving its taste and effect. If you want to take the next step, try investing in a humidor, which will solve a lot of your cannabis storage problems. Here are 8 ways to properly store marijuana for freshness.
Coughing is a good thing
There’s some mystery surrounding coughing and smoking weed. Some claim that coughing means that you’re smoking good quality marijuana, or that you’re starting to get high. None of this is true. Coughing is related to the heat of the smoke you’re inhaling and the irritation that that causes on your throat and lungs. Here’s how to stop coughing so hard from smoking marijuana.
Eating raw marijuana
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People will do anything for a good high, especially when they’re not informed and they’re just getting involved with marijuana. Don’t be that person who eats raw marijuana leaves. This won’t accomplish anything; cannabis must be heated for its THC to be released.
Everyone seems to be in the kitchen and creating Insta worthy dishes to be shared with friends and family. But cooking can be a bit messy. We all know you’re not supposed to pour hot grease down the drain, because it will clog the drain and corrode your pipes. But the repercussions are way, way worse.
Tech Insider takes us inside a sewer drain, where grease, once combined with everyone else’s discarded grease, forms huge globs, sometimes called “fatbergs,” that can grow to enormous sizes (a 17 ton fatberg was once found in a British sewer) and completely clog the sewer system. And cleaning them out can take weeks.
RELATED: Rainy Weather Cocktails
Next time you have leftover fat to get rid of, let it solidify and throw it in the trash. Soak up any residual grease with a paper towel. Now, watch this and try not to gag.
It’s a common misconception that pouring grease down the drain is okay if you run hot water and pour dish soap after it. In reality, grease should never go down the drain. Even if it’s hot and easy to pour out of the pan, it will eventually cool and solidify somewhere in your plumbing. This causes a gummy, goopy mess to form along the pipe walls, trapping other debris that flows down the drain. Over time, the resulting clogscould bring your drains to a standstill.
Even if the grease makes it past your home’s plumbing system, it continues to wreak havoc in the municipal sewer system. Some cities spend millions of dollars a year addressing damaged sewer systems and clearing out masses of solid waste—obstacles the industry calls “fatbergs,” which are named for the cooking oil and grease that hold the obstructions together. By never pouring grease down the drain, you can help prevent clogs and other plumbing problems further down the line.
A convenient, mess-free way to dispose of cooking grease is to pour it into an empty jar, can, or other container. Screw the lid onto the jar, or wait for the grease to cool and harden in the can. Then, throw it in the trash.
You can also wait for the grease to solidify in the pan and then wipe it out with paper towels, which you should then throw away. To prevent your garbage can from getting smelly, be sure to empty it shortly after disposing of the oil or grease.
Though sometimes grill temps can be a little high for cannabis cooking, there’s a few ways to get around this if you want to be creative. Here are some tips.
Smoking weed in the sunshine is a pretty nice thing. So is doing pretty much anything with cannabis and sunshine. With a party full of partakers, you can really get creative in your recipes and experiments with access to a barbecue grill. Though sometimes grill temps can be a little high for cannabis cooking, there’s a few ways to get around this if you want to be creative.
Knowing what bare minimum we do about cannabinoids, heat control is everything. This is why sometimes we marinate, while other times we make a satchel or apply the goods as a post-cooking sauce. Here are some tips for making the most out of a special BBQ.
Toss with THC before cooking
Burgers will grill relatively quickly, and the searing will create a seal that will keep some THC in if you add an infused oil into the mixture. This also goes for homemade veggie burgers which you can craft the night before out of starches, beans, and cooked vegetables. Try not to put anything patty shaped on too high for too long, since you want to cook the outside but just make the inside warm-to-hot, not burning. If you like a well-done burger, skip infusing for sure, as you’ll burn off too much of the potency.
Chopped veggies and meats or spears for kebabs are a much better choice for a THC-infused marinade. The surface area will allow the marinade to soak in, and the potential potency drop won’t be anything to cry over.
Seal-in foil for safe THC keeping
Chicken is a natural candidate for foil steaming, as grilling it is great but it can turn dry very quickly. Since chicken must be completely cooked, you can preserve the juiciness by tossing with a cannabis infused sauce, searing, then cooking with the sauce in a sealed packet. Try olive oil with lemon and rosemary for a tasty time.
Potatoes are absolutely fabulous on the grill
And when they are cooked in foil they get the insides to the temperatures needed to cook all the way in one go. Toss in a cube of cannabutter with diced potatoes and some thyme for a really delicious version of campfire potatoes. You can alternatively cook in a cast iron skillet on the grill surface with foil as a lid.
Whole corn on the grill is one of the yummiest ways to have the stuff, and it’s also the perfect vehicle for some post-grilling sauce or butter application. Make a cotija-cilantro-coconut sauce with some infused coconut oil and slather all over that ear.
Grilled whole vegetables are also a favorite for their minimal prep time and photogenic finished look, but unlike chopped veggies, these don’t take as well to THC marinades due to a lack of surface area. Glaze them after with some glycerin tincture mixed with balsamic vinegar, a sauce that you can make in seconds.
BBQ ribs, hot dogs, sausages
All grilled classics waiting for a healthy dressing with the condiments that mark the season. These aren’t as friendly vessels to pre-dosing but boy oh boy can you get on there with some sauces and such, so go for it!
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Just try to keep the basic idea in mind, that over 300 degrees requires care and planning when cooking with cannabis. If you want to be on the safe side, always add the strength after it comes off the hot grill.
One of the perks of of being a chef and a cookbook writer is getting to learn from the best in the industry. While shooting books, I get to spend extended hours with the amazing and talented in the restaurant world.
Pairing wine with savory foods I’ve been fortunate enough to spend half my life learning from the greats. Not so much with sweets until I shot The Wine Lover’s Dessert Cookbook with Jennie Schacht and Mary Chec. The First Lady Of Chocolate, Alice Medrich, sums this book up best:
This book is an instant jumpstart, a quick and confidence-inspiring way to start learning and practicing the art of serving wine with dessert…Great new work, And yes, I wish I’d thought of it myself!
The recipes and pairings are the bomb. Here are two of my favorites. Enjoy this deliciousness this weekend while peaches and nectarines are in season!
Photos by Frankie Frankeny
Fresh Mango-Nectarine Crumble
In this twist on the typical crumble, we’ve baked up a buttery topping to be scattered atop macerated fruit just before serving. Try adapting this with other fruits in season—peaches and blackberries, apricots and cherries, mango and crushed lychees, Fuyu persimmons and seedless tangerines.
The fresh fruit and buttery topping pair well with many wines, from a light muscat to a rich ice wine. Audubon Cellars Late Harvest Chardonnay (California) mirrors both the tropical and stone fruit flavors in this dessert.
Makes 6 servings
Crumble Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into 8 pieces
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Fruit
2 ripe mangoes, peeled and cut into julienne strips
2 ripe nectarines, cut into paper-thin slices
3/4 cup Moscato d’Asti, or the wine you will serve with the dessert
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
DIRECTIONS:
To make the crumble topping: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Stir together the flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and sprinkle evenly with the vanilla. Use your fingertips to pinch and rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like coarse cookie crumbs. Spread the crumble onto an ungreased baking sheet, squeezing a bit to make granola-like clumps. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice for even baking. Place the baking sheet on a rack to cool.
While the topping bakes, prepare the fruit: Combine the mango and nectarine pieces in a medium bowl. Add the wine, 1/4 cup sugar, lime zest, and lime juice, and stir gently to avoid breaking up the fruit, adding sugar to taste, if needed.
Pile the fruit into six dessert cups and drizzle each with a tablespoon or two of the juices from the bowl. Scatter the crumble topping over the fruit.
Photos by Frankie Frankeny
Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Fresh Peaches
Panna cotta, or “cooked cream,” is quintessentially Italian in its simplicity. The trick is to use just enough gelatin to set the cream without compromising its silky smoothness. Here, buttermilk adds a tangy contrast and peaches complement the wine. You could easily substitute berries, plums, or other fruits in season, varying the wine to match them.
Making the Match
Peaches pair well with the muscat canelli grapes used to make Asti and Moscato d’Asti. We love this with La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy). This also matches well with a delicate, late harvest white wine without oak and not too sweet or heavy, such as a demi-sec Vouvray. Look for a wine with fresh stone fruit flavors that pick up on the peaches, rich cream, and tart buttermilk.
Makes 4 servings
Vegetable oil for ramekins
1 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 cup heavy cream with no additives
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup buttermilk
4 ripe yellow peaches, preferably freestone
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
Lightly oil four 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups. Pour 1/4 cup cold water into a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the surface. Let soften for 5 minutes.
Gently warm the cream and sugar in a small, heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently. A drop should feel warm but not hot against your upper lip. Remove the cream from the heat and stir in the softened gelatin for at least 1 minute until it is completely dissolved. Stir in the buttermilk. Divide the mixture among the prepared molds and place them on a plate to cool until they are almost room temperature, about 1 hour. Refrigerate until the panna cotta is set, about 3 hours or up to 4 days. The cream should move in a single jiggle when you shake one of the molds. To avoid condensation, wait until they are completely cold before covering tightly with plastic film.
Prepare the peaches up to 2 hours before serving. Working over a small saucepan to catch their juices, peel the peaches with a sharp knife and cut them into 1/4-inch-thick wedges. Gently stir in brown sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice a little at a time, adjusting to taste, to bring out the flavor of the peaches. Gently warm the peaches to dissolve the sugar and slightly soften the fruit. Cool to room temperature.
Just before serving, run a thin, sharp knife around the inside of the ramekins to loosen the cream, then invert each into the center of a broad-rimmed soup bowl or serving plate. If the panna cotta does not release easily with gentle tapping, insert the knife between the panna cotta and the ramekin to coax the cream out. Place peach slices decoratively over and around the panna cotta, spooning some of their juices over the top.
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Named one of the 100 Most Creative People in the US by Entertainment Weekly , Frankie captures images for some of the best names in culinary.
Frankie has helped create: The Art of the Bar: Cocktails Based on the Classics;The Model Bakery Cookbook; Miette: Recipes from San Francisco’s Most Charming Pastry Shop; The Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook and The Star Wars Cookbook Series. Follow her on Instagram,FacebookandTwitter.
