Medibles...Rusty's 'choke' report...

[Rusty Trichome]

(get it?...smoke report...choke report... ...never mind)

I was bored this morning...this should prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt, lol...

Normally, I stayed away from medibles. I suck at making butter, and Amber didn't like the taste of medibles anyway, so we never got into it. Even had a few local dispensaries offer samples, but it was clear to see why the medibles were free. The aftertaste was always nasty, and their story was a Readers Digest version. (short and unsatisfying)

Anyway, this is a deeply layered saga (baggie inside baggie, inside baggie, inside...) that I found sitting on my doorstep a couple days ago. Yesterday, I dove into the saga, and discovered it was a self-help tale of intrigue and adventure.

The first chapter opens on a scene already in progress....Seems the author usually eats breakfast around 11:00 or so, but munched the cookie around 7:00 am. Started feeling the effects in about 30 minutes. Big mistake not eating first, at least for me. No projectile vomiting for distance and accuracy, but was tempted for a half hour or so. At about 9:00 I forced myself to have a sandwich, and all was forgiven. No ill side effects for the rest of the day. (crappy transition between third-person and first-person perspective, but oh well...I'm not THAT bored, lol)

For me...it helped my arthritis and general body aches, but is not something I'd use to increase my appetite. Was an almost intense heady effect, with moments of forgetfulness for the first few hours, which faded to a comfortable background effect that didn't get in the way of chores. At 3:00 yesterday afternoon, I was filling my pipe, as the effects had faded below my minimum requirements.

Might be that I should try...half a cookie at first, or consume the cookie after eating, as the nausea was the only side effect, albeit short-lived. This experience has showed me that not all medibles are overpriced gimmicks that taste nastier than bong water splash. Some medibles are garbage...but some bakers actually know what they're doing, and produce a quality product.

Thank you to the member that changed my mind, and assured that the medibles would be found on my door step. Will experiment more tomorrow. Looks like a acorn-type of chocolate treat in there I wanna try next time...

Rusty

 

[eloquentsoution]

you haven't tried my fruit infused truffles medicated with acetate, which is clean enough that it injects very little in flavor changes. i do agree on the crappy after taste of most medibles though.....

 

[castout]

Rusty, I find that the edibles really soften my pain....nothing gets rid of it completely, as it is nerve pain. I get a level of comfort, that is very long lasting....and that i can't ever attain, just from smoking, or vaping. I also like the fact, that I can have an edible, and be out in public, medicated, but not smelling like I have just medicated. I have flown, and taken an edible while waiting in the TSA line, and it makes the flight so much easier for me.....my leg can swell so badly, that my foot won't fit into anything other than a flip flop!! I can't wait to hear the next chapter!!!!! Have a good one, and stay HIGH, it's better than being low.

 

[Rusty Trichome]

Wasn't really sure what to expect, but it did relay my joint pain quite a bit, and did provide for a little nap, lol. Will enjoy it more this next time. Tomorrow after I eat, lol. But I do like the longer effects than if smoking.

Chocolate truffles, or fungus truffles...?
Acetate? Is that like an extraction using acid, or a rhodoid? (acetate film)

The medibles got me to re-examining my stance on 'em, so am looking for a great budder recipe. Now that nobody is here to tell me I can't use the crock pot, it's back in play, lol. Am also curious about caramels, but am not sure if that's a good idea.

Am also prepared to give the Rick Simpson extraction method a try. I've already got the naphtha, along with everything else needed. But I'll likely have to wait till weather improves. Too cold outside, and I'm totally against blowing-up my home or catching it on fire.

Rusty

 

[guest 77721]

Hey Rusty, that's great you are willing to try medibles. I rarely smoke because of my asthma and find the edibles a wonderful way to take your medicine.

Try doing an oil based infusion using a healthy oil like Coconut oil that can take the heat of cooking without breaking down. A lot of the nasty flavour and perhaps what is making you nauseous comes out of the water soluable components of the herb. An oil based infusion is a lot cleaner than using butter which has a high water content.

 

[castout]

Caramels are really good....but use a candy thermometer!!!!! I have heard good things about the acetate infusions......maybe one day i will try it....and the coconut oil thing...hmm, food for thought!!!!

 

[guest 77721]

I wouldn't use a solvent based extract to make medibles. Most solvents like butane, naptha and acetone react with the organic oils to produce cancer causing chemicals. That is why solvent produced cooking oils are unhealthy and the healthy choice is to use expeller pressed oils. My kitchen has olive, hemp, and Canola. Cooking with unhealthy oils creates transfats which break down to cancer causing forms with heat. This is why corn, soy and sunflower oils are unheathy and they are solvent extracted as well.

I feel that there is no need to make concentrates using solvents for edibles. Just take your crock pot, grind up your bud and put 1-2 tbsp of water in the the cooking oil to keep the temp at boiling point of water. I use 1 oz of bud to 2 cups of coconut oil. Cook for for 1 hour once bubbles from the water start to form. Easy peasy.

 

[Rusty Trichome]

I appreciate the info. Will be giving a few different methods a try, and see which works best for me. I do have some olive oil, but I don't like the flavor, (was my wife's) and will check WallMart for coconut oil. If not...regular canola oil.

Guess I'll hunt around for recipe's. Thanks.

Rusty

 

[guest 77721]

The easiest way to try a cooking oil is to make a batch of brownies. I just use a store bought mix that calls for 1/4 cup of cooking oil and 1/4 cup of water and 1 egg.

All I do is simmer 1/4 cup of oil with 1/8 oz of ground bud with 1/4 cup of water for 1 hour on the stove. Let it cool before adding in the egg or it will set. It takes about 20 mins to bake the brownies.

I've been making larger batches using Coconut oil which comes in a 2 cup/ 454g / 1lb container. The ratio of bud to oil is the same as the quick brownie recipe using 1 oz to 2 cups of oil. I've done it in a crock pot and it takes forever to get it up to temp so I prefer using the stove. As long as you put some water 1-2 tbsp in the batch it will hold the temps at the boiling point of water or 212*F. Simmer for 1 hr to decarboxylize the THC.
The only messy part is using a strainer or cheese cloth to separate out the plant material if you want.

Coconut oil has to be stored in the fridge and it's really handy to make it once and have enough for 8 batches or brownies. Lately I've been making cookies that call for 3 tbsp of butter. I use 2 tbsp of canna oil and 1 tbsp of butter which gives them more flavour.

Canna oil infusions are the best, whether you use Coconut, Canola or Olive. You get better extraction of cannabinoids than butter and better taste.

 

[Rusty Trichome]

Need to get a candy thermometer. Next trip into town. I was also worried about my cook top. It's a ceramic top that specifically said to use care when cooking with sugar. I guess it's a few years old though...not like I'd be ruining a brand new one if I spill, lol.

Tried another medible yesterday. Was an acorn-looking chocolate-filled treat. I waited till after an early dinner, and gave it a go while watching the race. No nausea, and was more comfortable this time. Zoned-out on the race, and never thought about my arthritis or muscle spasms. Didn't affect my stomach either, which isn't prissy at all, under normal circumstances. So no more medibles on an empty stomach for me. Perhaps half a cookie would have been ok before eating, but no need to push it regardless.

But I gotta admit...the mint-chocolate cookie was MUCH better tasting than the acorn treat. More of the butter infused in the acorn, perhaps? IDK...but the taste was definitely cannabis-based, lol. Was about the same insofar as effects, but it did have that aftertaste I'm familiar with. So masking with mint works well, I'm guessing, lol.

Also, when mixing budder (or oil) into a recipe, how much do you add? Do you follow box directions, or do you make from scratch? Is one way better than the other? Do I need to look at boxes of cookie mix or brownie batter, and see which needs the largest quantity of oil and butter, or is it ok to add more than the directions say?

Rusty

 

[guest 77721]

I follow the recipe and substitute the amount of oil or butter with the canna version otherwise the recipe won't turn out right.

The fun part is figuring out what a standard dose is. For the first time, eat a half a cookie or brownie and wait for 45 mins before taking anymore. There's lot's of times that i have a migraine and I don't want to be medicated so I just eat 1/4 cookie and when I feel it wearing off, I'll have another little piece.

That makes me wonder if your nausea might have been caused by a too strong dose on an empty stomach. It's easy to take too much especially when the treats are so yummy.

 

[shmalphy]

I have made a lot of medibles. I use fan leaf at a ratio of 4oz to 1lb butter (made into ghee) just enough to wet it.

Using water while making cannbutter gives a nasty flavor. Use a thermometer instead to regulate temps.

Decarb the starting material in a pyrex dish covered with foil in the oven. I do this at 325 for 20 min, use less heat or time for bud or hash. It will not get up past 200 inside the pan. It will smell like dank bud now, or the first hit from the vape. No more grassy or nasty smell means your done.

Heat for 4 hours in a crockpot, freeze for 2, heat 4 more, freexe 2 more, then heat and strain. This increases bio availability.

Caramels are good. So are rice krispy treats (25% fruity pebbles) and peanut butter cups, and peanut brittle.

 

[castout]

I am gonna be making caramels....did them before, minus the candy thermometer, and they didn't get to the optimum consistency. they were still really good, though.

 

[shmalphy]

I have made this recipe MANY MANY times. I had a hard time making caramel before, so I was intimidated (it kept crystallizing the sugar) but this has worked every time, except when I tried to multiply it by 8 and overcooked it (that turned into the best peanut brittle ever lol) Make a non medicated batch too, because they are RIDICULOUSLY good.

http://candy.about.com/od/caramelrecipes/r/soft_caramels.htm

Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 cups light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter, cut into small cubes

Preparation:

1. Prepare a 9x9 pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Combine the cream and condensed milk in a small saucepan, and place the saucepan on a burner set to the lowest heat setting. You want the milk and cream to be warm, but do not allow it to boil.

3. In a medium-large saucepan combine the corn syrup, water, and granulated sugar over medium-high heat. Stir the candy until the sugar dissolves, then use a wet pastry brush to wash down the sides of the pan to prevent sugar crystals from forming and making the candy grainy.

4. Insert a candy thermometer and reduce the heat to medium. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and cook until the thermometer reads 250 degrees.

5. Add the softened butter chunks and the warm milk-cream mixture. The temperature should go down about 30 degrees.

6. Continue to cook the caramel, stirring constantly so that the bottom does not scorch. Cook it until the thermometer reads 244, and the caramel is a beautiful dark golden brown.

7. Remove the caramel from the heat and immediately pour it into the prepared pan. Do not scrape candy from the bottom of the saucepan. Allow the candy to sit overnight to set up and develop a smooth, silky texture.

8. When you are ready to cut the caramel, place a piece of waxed paper on the counter and lift the caramel from the pan using the foil as handles. Flip the top of the caramel onto the waxed paper and peel the foil layer from the bottom of the caramel.

9. Spray a large knife with nonstick cooking spray. Firmly cut into the caramels, creating 1” squares. Wipe the blade and re-spray as necessary.

10. Wrap the squares in waxed paper. The caramels will gradually spread and lose their square shape if not wrapped soon after cutting. Alternately, you can dip them in chocolate once they are cut.

11. Store the caramels at room temperature for up to two weeks.

 

[Rusty Trichome]

Finished what was sent to me. (thanks again) The cookies were pretty darned good. The mint and chocolate worked well to mask the cannayuk. But never again on an empty stomach. At least till I get used to it.

Okay...got a good starting point. I'm going into town tomorrow, will see if I can round-up some ingredients. I just harvested my Haze x Skunk ladies, so have enough for a batch of practice. I'm guessing I should wait till buds are dry before drowning 'em in hot oil?

Do y'all have a favorite recipe source, or do you just substitute the oil or butter from ANY recipe? A friend down the street makes a mean canna mac-n-cheese. (according to HIM, lol)

I DID have a tasty Rice Crispy treat a few months back. One side of the bar was dipped in chocolate. Wasn't nearly as strong as these cookies though. Perhaps once we go legit, feds will better-regulate the industry. <kidding>

 

[shmalphy]

I'm guessing I should wait till buds are dry before drowning 'em in hot oil?

Use buds if you want, but I feel like that is a waste. I only use fan leaf, I get it free from a few growers I know, and trade them finished treats.

If you get your fan leaf tested it has THC, just not as much. I dry that out til it's crumbly and then put it in the oven for 20 min in a brownie pan covered in foil @ 325. It will activate all the THC inside. I would at least hash the buds before making cannabutter out of them, but that is me.

 

[Rusty Trichome]

Okey Dokey...thanks.

 

[Rusty Trichome]

A quick update:

Canola Oil Method

Last night I took the trim from a 54 day flowering Ghost OG...and dried it out. I have a Dehydrate setting on my toaster oven, which fan-forces 150 degree air. Takes about half an hour or so. Was about a quarter oz of trichome-rich leaf after drying. (I used this time for cleaning the scissors, my coffee mug, my glasses...all sticky)



Added just about 1/3 cup canola oil and a teaspoon of water to the crock pot on auto-adjust setting. Waited till water started bubbling along the sides of the crock pot, then added the trim. Covered, and set the timer for an hour, stirring every once in a while.

After an hour, I 'spooned-out' the mix, into 2 brass-screen coffee filters, (one inside the other) and 'pressed' the oil from the saturated trim, which I then tossed.

Ended-up with a little over 1/4 cup of oil. Came-out a dusky green.

I had some of those snack-size Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip cookie mixes, which makes 1/2 batches. Instructions say to use 1/4 lb (1/4 cup) of softened butter, which I used 1/4 cup Canna-oil, instead.

I cooked 'em per cookie package directions, except I lowered the temp from 375 to 350, and cooked 'em for 2 minutes longer. I thought they would be all green after cooking, but there's just a slight (sickly-looking) tinge. Smells like crap, but the oil didn't seem to screw-up the cookie's ability to bake and hold it's form, lol.

Made 7 - 3" cookies, (heaping tablespoon) Will give it a go after lunch. Tried a small one last night, but was already medicated, so was not a real good test. They taste a bit like I'd imagine crap with chocolate chips would taste. (needed a water chaser) I ate it at 6:30 and started feeling it a bit at around 7:30. I woke-up at around 9:30, in time to get ready for bed.

But like I said, I'll give it a try again today...with any luck, they taste better with age... But I did come across some little mint-chips for baking. Andes Creme de Minthe. (after-dinner mints) Looking for a good chocolate cookie mix, since I know the chocolate-mint combo was much more pallatable than just chocolate chip.

 

[CaptainTrips]

I wouldn't use a solvent based extract to make medibles. Most solvents like butane, naptha and acetone react with the organic oils to produce cancer causing chemicals. That is why solvent produced cooking oils are unhealthy and the healthy choice is to use expeller pressed oils. My kitchen has olive, hemp, and Canola. Cooking with unhealthy oils creates transfats which break down to cancer causing forms with heat. This is why corn, soy and sunflower oils are unheathy and they are solvent extracted as well.

I feel that there is no need to make concentrates using solvents for edibles. Just take your crock pot, grind up your bud and put 1-2 tbsp of water in the the cooking oil to keep the temp at boiling point of water. I use 1 oz of bud to 2 cups of coconut oil. Cook for for 1 hour once bubbles from the water start to form. Easy peasy.

The taste is nasty this way, this is why I started using solvents. The solvent never comes in contact with oil or butter. You just use the solvent to make hash then desolve that in your oil or butter. I really wouldn't use acetate or stuff like that, I personally use edible alcohol. Its also easier to separate your starting bud material from alcohol or other type solvent, compared to soaking your bud in oil/butter...

 

[Rusty Trichome]

The taste is nasty this way, this is why I started using solvents. The solvent never comes in contact with oil or butter. You just use the solvent to make hash then desolve that in your oil or butter. I really wouldn't use acetate or stuff like that, I personally use edible alcohol. Its also easier to separate your starting bud material from alcohol or other type solvent, compared to soaking your bud in oil/butter...

Any chance you could provide the steps or a link to the steps? I have naptha, but that just sounds...extreme. With my next harvest I'll have more to play with, so can run more experiments. Too bad you couldn't use sugar to extract. Would give the flavor a good head-start.

The cookie wasn't too bad, but I'll try one and a half next time. Seemed a bit dull, but an ok first try. I like it better than the butter I made, but will try that again, too. (if I can find a good recipe)