Warmer weather is coming! While March is a toss up, St. Patrick's Day feels like the turning point, when winter starts to loose its grip and slide toward Spring. I'd like to celebrate this fun loving Irish Holiday and the beginning of Spring with some green recipes featuring CBD! I've been feeling starved for green, especially in the muddy brown landscape of the northeast right now, so I figured I would make my own in the kitchen. Adding a dropper of Anthill CBD Extract is a fun way to modify a cocktail or supplement your favorite drink or smoothie with anti-inflammatory goodness.
While Covid is still dampening most of our plans... a year in! We're all pretty used to the more limited palette of what qualifies as a party. Camping chairs and fire-pits all the way, but I'm excited for the warmer weather and some expanded outdoor hang out options. Just the same it's important to celebrate even in small ways, so we don't feel like all is a wash.
So here's a few green themed recipes to get you in the mood. CBD extract is a great way to relax and feel more social and loose, without feeling intoxicated. I find it to be a subtle social lubricant, giving you a feeling of being at ease in your body, letting go of tense muscles and stress. Sounds a little like alcohol but, way easier on the liver. So...it can be added to an alcoholic drink, but with caution, as there could be extra relaxation/sedation effect, so best to go light on the dose, 12-15mg. However, there are also a lot of great mock-tails featuring CBD extract- so you can loosen up but stay on your A game. While Beer and Baileys is traditional St. Patty's day fair, they can be a little heavy so I'm opting for some lighter drinks that feel like spring itself.
I love mint Anything! It's such a fresh and vibrant flavor. It's also one of the first herbs to pop up after the snow melts, so if you're lucky enough to have a patch you can pick some for this recipe.
Mint and CBD Hemp Extract are great pair too, because they have similar effects on the nervous system, with a calming stress relieving effect. They are also both soothing for digestion! So of course my favorite mint Cocktails came to mind. Mojitos are one of my all time favorite cocktails for spring and summer and mint also makes me think Mint Juleps which I also adore.
CBD Mint Mojito
Ingredients
10 fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish
2 ounces white rum
1 -2 ounce fresh lime juice
2-3 tsp simple syrup to taste
1/2 cup club soda or plain seltzer would work too
1 cup ice cubes-crushed ice is awesome for this.
3/4-1 dropper of 500mg Mint or Regular Anthill Farm -CBD Hemp Full Spectrum Extract
Directions
In a tall glass, muddle the mint leaves with the lime juice (using a cocktail muddler if you have one or a wooden spoon.
Add the rum, simple syrup, CBD extract, ice and then club soda or seltzer , and mix well. Add extra mint and lime wedges for garnish.
Enjoy!
For a CBD Mint Julep...its pretty similar... Sub in 2 oz. good quality Bourbon for the rum. Leave out the lime juice. They both get muddled, they both taste amazing.
Simple syrup... is just that simple to make but you can also jazz it up with other flavors, with citrus, or herbs...
Basic Simple Syrup – 1 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup water, simmered for a few minutes so all sugar is dissolved and cooled. Keeps forever in the fridge.
** Remember to take it easy on these drinks, CBD and Alcohol can be more sedative, so plan on staying in or having a non-drinker drive!! Imbibe safely!
Okay so maybe you want to skip the booze... Leave it out of the mojito recipe and you have a tasty mint and lime splash seltzer.
Want a healthy green way to start the day, why not try Matcha?
If you haven't gotten on the Matcha train... you're missing out! It's a great alternative to coffee for a boost of caffeine, and not as acidic meaning it's easier on the stomach. The flavor can be an acquired one, but I find it best as a latte, especially with some Oatley and a little honey! Here at Anthill we have formulated a Hemp and Matcha Tea, Called Lift Me Up, because its made with our Lifter Hemp. Hemp and Matcha are a great match flavor wise...with verdant, earthy and slightly toasty flavors. They are also both known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects, combined they are a powerhouse for your health.
When I make a Matcha Latte with our Lift me up tea... it's a little different than some traditional Matcha drinkers may be used to. There are a couple ways to do it and both are good.
Hemp-Matcha Lift me up Latte
For the more traditional method: quicker, but a little spicier.
whisk a tsp Lift me up: matcha-hemp tea powder with 1/4 cup of hot water in a cup or bowl.
Steam or heat Milk... I like full fat oat milk best. (Fats in milk or nondairy version helps make CBD more bioavailable, so don't skip it!)
Pour Tea mixture through a strainer into the steamed milk.
Add a little honey or sweetener of choice if desired.
*I find that combining the Lift me up tea with hot water, brings out a spicy-sharper flavor in the hemp, some people don't mind that, but personally I prefer the second method here.
On the stovetop: for a stronger CBD effect or to make a bigger batch you can save for iced latte or smoothie. Milder CBD flavor, Stronger green tea flavor.
Gently heat up 2 cups Oat milk or other.
Add 2 tsp Lift me up Matcha -Hemp powder whisk together
Let steep on low heat or cover with a lid for 10m minutes.
Strain some into a mug to drink hot, adding sweetener if desired.
Or strain into a pitcher or jar and chill for later use. If it's a little strong add water or more milk to suit.
**Start low and slow with hemp... especially when ingested it can have a stronger effect and you may feel more of the THC ( while in small amounts its still there).
Super-food Green Matcha-CBD Smoothie
Use 1 cup cooled Lift me up Matcha-hemp milk
1 banana, ripe or frozen
Optional 1/2 cup blueberries... though it wont be as green.
1/2 cup packed spinach leaves
1/2-1 cup of ice cubes if desired
Blend it up drink up... you know the drill!
Hope you enjoy the Spring Weather and are inspired to try these tasty green recipes with some Anthill Farm Agroforestry CBD prod! Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day!!!
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