Press Kit for:
Contact Information: Mitch Mandell [email protected] 310-753-9458
I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Z-Dog Media’s debut print publication, The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook by Cheri Sicard. A professional recipe developer and cookbook author prior to becoming a medical cannabis patient and advocate, Cheri approached developing the 120 plus medicated recipes in this book from the perspective of a foodie, believing there is no reason to have to choke down bad tasting “medibles” in order to enjoy the benefits of cannabis.
The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook goes beyond great tasting recipes. This book teaches the essentials of how to be a successful cannabis cook including important information on proper dosing, making marijuana infused butter and oil and cooking with hash and kief. Cheri even includes instructions for freezing and reheating many of the recipes, allowing the cannabis cook to save extra medicated foods for another time.
The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook is a professionally produced book containing full color photography and an informative foreword by Registered Nurse and medical marijuana specialist Lanny Swerdlow on how and why cannabis can effectively be used to treat a wide variety of conditions.
This press kit has information about The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook and its author, Cheri Sicard including press releases, story ideas, and sample recipes. Color photography of Cheri and the recipes is available upon request. If you would like to schedule an interview with Cheri, or are interested in a review copy of the book, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Mitch Mandell Publisher Z-Dog Media, LLC
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Table of Contents Fact Sheet ...... 4 About the Author: Cheri Sicard ...... 5 Sample Interview Questions for Cheri Sicard, author The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook ...... 7 Press Release ...... 9 5 Reasons to Make Your Own Cannabis Infused Medibles ...... 9 Marijuana Cookbook Debuts at High Times Cannabis Cup, Benefits NORML Womenʼs Alliance ...... 10 Sample Recipes With Photography ...... 11 Cannabis Infused Chicken and Cashew Sandwich or Salad ...... 11 Devilishly Good Orange Drink ...... 12 Cannabis Infused Stir Fried Ginger Shrimp and Asparagus ...... 13 Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies ...... 15 Other Photography ...... 17 Reply Card ...... 20
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Fact Sheet
Book Title: The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook: Over 120 Delicious Medical Marijuana Infused Recipes
Author: Cheri Sicard
Publisher: Z-Dog Media, llc
Description: Everything you need to know to successfully cook with cannabis, plus over 120 gourmet cannabis infused recipes.
Number of pages: 160
Number of recipes: 122
Binding style: Trade Paperback
ISBN number: 978-0-9839888-0-9
Manufacturer: Favorite Recipes Press
Year of manufacturing: 2012
Retail price: $24.95
Cookbook Highlights: Includes how to calculate cannabis cooking dosages, making marijuana infused butter and oil, cooking with kief and hash, how to adapt your favorite recipes for cannabis cooking, freezing and reheating cannabis edibles. Where to purchase the book: www.CannabisCheri.com
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About the Author: Cheri Sicard
Cheri Sicard was a professional food writer and recipe developer long before she became a medical marijuana patient and cannabis cook. She created the popular cooking website FabulousFoods.com and is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Easy Freezer Meals (2011, Alpha Books), and the editor of the freezer and make ahead cooking blog CheriOnIce.com. When writing The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook, she approached marijuana recipe development from the perspective of being a foodie, believing there’s no reason to have to choke down bad tasting or boring edibles in order to receive the benefits of edible cannabis.
Had someone told Cheri back in 1996, when California’s Prop 215 first legalized marijuana for medicinal use, she would become entrenched in the cannabis movement, she wouldn’t have believed them. Other than the rare toke at a party, Cheri didn’t use marijuana. It wasn’t until she was nearly 40 years old that her doctor suggested, off the record as the hospital he worked for didn’t “allow” it, she try marijuana to help with a chronic nausea problem that a variety of prescription drugs had failed to help. It worked immediately. After regularly using cannabis for a while, Cheri was surprised to discover she no longer felt the need for the anti- depressant prescriptions she’d been taking for years, as for her, cannabis did the job better without unwanted side effects. Lifelong chronic digestive problems disappeared too.
While Cheri marveled at how cannabis had improved the quality of her daily life, she worried that she might somehow be doing herself harm. Like most Americans, she had been indoctrinated into the school of thought that marijuana is an evil and dangerous drug. So she started reading and doing research. She even went so far as to attend and graduate from Oaksterdam University, the cannabis industry’s leading training institution. Afterwards she continued to attend classes and seminars at every opportunity.
The more Cheri learned, the more the scientific evidence bowled her over and convinced her that the marijuana she was using not only improved specific symptoms, but overall health and well being as well. She found it impossible to keep quiet about all the astounding medical research that’s routinely ignored by the mainstream media, and started talking about it to everyone she knew. She continually found herself outraged by government hypocrisy surrounding the war on drugs and the fact that people all over the county, including in states where the people have voted to make medical marijuana legal, are still being jailed over this benevolent plant.
Over the course of six months Cheri went from the typical closeted American marijuana user to an outspoken cannabis legalization and anti drug war advocate. And she hasn’t looked back since. When she isn’t cooking and developing new recipes, you can often find Cheri speaking at civic meetings and city and county councils, organizing rallies, teaching classes, and attending court supports for medical marijuana defendants.
Through it all, she is always working side-by-side with other medical marijuana patients. Many are people like her, who have realized a dramatic improvement in the quality of www.zdogmedia.com P.O. Box 4914 www.cannabischeri.com Long Beach, CA 90804 www.cherionice.com 310-827-2299
their day-to-day lives by using cannabis. Others with serious and life threatening conditions like AIDS, cancer, PTSD, Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, and countless other debilitating ailments, could not bear to live without the relief cannabis gives them. The valuable input, opinions, and support of all these people has lead Cheri to start work on Volume II of The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook: Quick and Easy Cooking with Marijuana. Look for it soon from your favorite bookseller or online at www.CannabisCheri.com.
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Sample Interview Questions for Cheri Sicard, author The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook
You don’t look like the stereotypical marijuana user, when did you start using cannabis? It’s important to realize that, despite the media’s favorite Cheech and Chong-like portrayals of marijuana users, there is no such thing as a “typical marijuana user.” We are everyone – all ages, all races, and all political persuasions. I was almost 40 years old when my doctor suggested I try cannabis for a chronic nausea problem. It not only worked for that, but for some other health issues I had as well.
What lead you to write the Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook? I was a food writer and professional recipe developer before I became a cannabis patient, so naturally the subject of cooking with cannabis interested me. But when I started to research it, I found all kinds of conflicting advice and formulas for the best way to do it. It was clear that I was going to have to do some hands on experimentation to find out what really worked best, so I thought, why not share that information with other patients?
What are some of the advantages of edible cannabis? First and foremost, it’s discreet, you don’t have to smoke it and likewise there is no telltale odor. Edible cannabis lasts far longer than it’s smoked or vaporized counterparts as well – easily 3 to 4 hours or more.
Are there some conditions that especially benefit from the edible form of cannabis? Yes. Patients experiencing chronic pain report excellent results with edibles. They are also especially good for insomnia, especially when made with an indica strain.
Why should people make their own medicated foods as opposed to buying them? Control, control control. When you make it yourself you control the amount of medication as well as the type, so you can really customize the edibles for your specific needs and conditions. You also have control of the rest of the recipe, meaning it can be customized for your needs and tastes. Diabetic, vegan, gluten free, etc.? No problem.
How do you infuse marijuana into your recipes? My favorite way to cook with cannabis is using concentrates – kief or hash, so there are lots of recipe using these. I also regularly cook with marijuana infused oils and butter, so I also include recipes for these. I even cook with ground bud on occasion. I don’t include tincture recipes simply because I don’t feel cooking is the best use of this product, and I think my readers can figure out on their own how to add drop or two of tincture to
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cooking if that’s what they want to do.
How much marijuana do you use in cooking? That varies from person to person and a lot of factors go in to determining a proper dose. These include quality of the plant material being used as well as the weight, tolerance and experience levels of the person using it. For that reason I have a detailed chapter in the book to help readers determine the amounts that will work best for their needs.
Do marijuana edibles taste funny? They can. In recipes that have lots of other strong flavors going on, you won’t notice the flavor of the cannabis at all. Other more delicately flavored dishes may have a more distinct flavor. I developed my recipes to minimize unwanted herbal flavors and readers will find tips in the book to help them when adapting their own favorite recipes.
Can any recipe be adapted to add marijuana? Technically yes, but that said, some work far better than others. Cannabis needs some fat to help it metabolize, so this is always a factor. I go into all the considerations of adapting recipes for cannabis cooking in the book so readers can medicate their own favorites.
What kind of recipes are included in the book? There is a wide variety of recipes in The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook including snacks, appetizers, brunch and lunch items, soups, salads, side dishes, main courses, drinks and desserts. The variety of potential cannabis infused foods is endless. The recipes cover a wide array from casual to sophisticated so there is something for everyone.
I read that you are also a marijuana activist? Yes. Once I started doing research and learning about all the amazing properties of cannabis I became outraged by the lies and hypocrisy surrounding this plant. I just couldn’t keep quiet about it. In the course of 6 months I went from the typical American closeted marijuana smoker to an outspoken advocate, and I haven’t looked back since. I work to help change our draconian drug laws that still keep people going to jail for a plant. Also, as the Los Angles County community director of the NORML (National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws) Women’s Alliance, I especially try to educate women about cannabis. Historically, women have the most fear, I want to turn that around through education. Once people learn the truth about marijuana they realize there is a lot to celebrate and little to fear.
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mitch Mandell, Z-Dog Media 310-753-9458; [email protected]
5 Reasons to Make Your Own Cannabis Infused Medibles
Medical Marijuana patients browsing the display cases at their local dispensaries can find themselves overwhelmed by the number of commercially prepared medicated food products available. Nonetheless, medical cannabis advocate Cheri Sicard, author of The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook (2012 Z-Dog Media) insists that the most effective cannabis edibles come from patients’ own kitchens.
“When you make your own edibles, you have all the control, and that’s a good thing. Making your own edibles lets you customize them to best meet your specific needs.”
Here are the top five reasons Sicard says every medical marijuana patient should consider making their own medicated foods:
1. Dosage: Cannabis dosing is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor and likewise no commercial edible will fit everyone’s needs. When you make it yourself, you can add the amount of medicine that you personally need. 2. Strains: Certain strains work better for certain ailments, yet most commercial edibles contain an amalgam of different plants. When you make your own edibles you can use the strain and types of cannabis that work best for your needs. You can even make different type for different times, for instance indica infused edibles for nighttime and sativas for daytime use. 3. Greater Variety: While dispensary shelves are filled with tons of sweet treats, when you make your own edibles, you can infuse most any food, not just desserts. 4. Satisfies Your Taste: Why eat foods seasoned to someone else’s taste when you can prepare them exactly the way you like them? Make it yourself and you control how sweet, salty, or spicy your food is. 5. Fits Your Lifestyle: Are you a diabetic? Trying to cut calories? Want to eat gluten free or vegan? No matter what the dietary restriction, making your own edibles allows you to control every ingredient that goes into your food and still receive the benefits of cannabis.
About the Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook: Author Cheri Sicard was a professional food writer and recipe developer before she became a medical marijuana patient. Likewise she approached recipe development from the perspective of being foodie, believing there is no need to choke down bad tasting edibles in order to enjoy the benefits of medical cannabis. In addition to over 120 delicious medical marijuana infused recipes, the book teaches the techniques of making cannabis infused butter and oils, cooking with kief and hash, achieving proper dosages, and how to adapt your own favorite recipes for cannabis cooking.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mitch Mandell, Z-Dog Media 310-753-9458; [email protected] Marijuana Cookbook Debuts at High Times Cannabis Cup, Benefits NORML Women’s Alliance
A new, high production, cannabis cookbook will make its debut at the High Times Cannabis Cup in Los Angeles, Feb 11 and 12, 2012. Medical Marijuana patients who purchase Cheri Sicard’s The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook (2012, Z-Dg Media, ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9839888-0-9) at the Cannabis Cup will get more than instructions for cooking with marijuana and over 120 delicious medicated recipes, they’ll also get to feel good about helping the cause as all sales at the event will benefit the NORML (National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws) Women’s Alliance.
Author Cheri Sicard was a professional food writer and recipe developer long before she became a medical marijuana patient and cannabis legalization advocate. She approached recipe development from the perspective of a foodie, believing there’s no reason to have to choke down bad tasting medibles in order to gain the benefit of medical marijuana. The book, which contains a wide variety of recipes from simple to sophisticated, also teaches patients how to cook with marijuana including proper dosing, making infused butter and oil, cooking with kief and hash, and even how to adapt favorite recipes for cannabis cooking.
When not in the kitchen, Sicard is a dedicated cannabis legalization advocate. As the Los Angeles County Community Leader for the NORML Women’s Alliance, she is especially interested in educating women about the true facts about cannabis. “Women, especially between the ages of 30 and 50, are one of the toughest demographics to win over when it come to legalizing cannabis, and it’s largely because they are misinformed about the facts. The NORML Women’s Alliance works to change that by reaching out and providing education and dialogues about cannabis and how it effects women and their families,” says Sicard.
The release of her newest book just happened to coincide with the High Times Cannabis Cup, where Sicard was scheduled to appear at the NORML Women’s Alliance booth, so combining the two in order to raise funds seemed like a natural. Money raised will help the group provide materials for community education and outreach projects and produce upcoming events.
The High Times Cannabis Cup is the world’s premier medical marijuana competition and arrives for the first time in Los Angeles on February 10 and 11, 2012. For more information visit medcancup.com/los-angeles/schedule.
The NORML Women’s Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of diverse women who believe that marijuana prohibition is a self-destructive and hypocritical policy that undermines the American family, sends a mixed and false message to our youth, and destroys the cherished principles of personal liberty and local self-government. www.norml.org/women.
Cheri Sicard is a writer, cookbook author, cannabis legalization advocate, and the Los Angeles County Community Leader for the NORML Women’s Alliance. Read her blog at www.CannabisCheri.com. ### www.zdogmedia.com P.O. Box 4914 www.cannabischeri.com Long Beach, CA 90804 www.cherionice.com 310-827-2299
Sample Recipes With Photography Cannabis Infused Chicken and Cashew Sandwich or Salad
Reprinted from The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook by Cheri Sicard; 2011 Z-Dog Media; ISBN: 978-0-9839888-0-9; $24.95.
Chicken salad soars to new heights of flavor with this unique recipe featuring sweet red grapes, crunchy cashews, and exotic curry.
Yield: 3 cups/4 Servings Serving Size: 3/4 Cup
1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 gram kief or finely ground dry hash 1/2 teaspoon curry powder 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken 1/2 cup halved seedless red grapes 1/4 cup finely diced celery 1 tablespoon minced onion or shallot 1/4 cup chopped cashews 1 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley (or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried) Salt and pepper to taste
Sprinkle kief or hash and curry powder over mayonnaise and mix to combine. In a medium bowl, toss remaining ingredients with mayonnaise mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve stuffed in a pita bread, on toast, or on a bed of lettuce.
* This dose is only a suggestion. Be sure to read and understand Calculating Cannabis Doses in Edibles before attempting to cook with marijuana.
Cannabis Infused Chicken and Cashew Sandwich or Salad
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Devilishly Good Orange Drink
Reprinted from The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook by Cheri Sicard; 2011 Z-Dog Media; ISBN: 978-0-9839888-0-9; $24.95.
When I first visited California as a young child, I remember Orange Julius stands and their signature red devil logo dotting the landscape. This sweet citrus drink now seems delegated to mall food courts, if you can find it at all. This cannabis infused version tastes close to the original.
Yield: 1 Cup Serving Size: 1 Cup
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed 1/2 cup whole milk or half and half 1/4 gram kief or finely ground dry hash 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 to 3 ice cubes
Place orange juice concentrate, milk or half and half, kief or ground hash, sugar, and vanilla in a blender and puree until smooth and frothy. Add ice cubes and puree until frosty and ice is incorporated into the drink. Serve immediately.
* This dose is only a suggestion. Be sure to read and understand Calculating Cannabis Doses in Edibles before attempting to cook with marijuana.
Devilishly Good OJ Drink
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Cannabis Infused Stir Fried Ginger Shrimp and Asparagus
Reprinted from The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook by Cheri Sicard; 2011 Z-Dog Media; ISBN: 978-0-9839888-0-9; $24.95.
This satisfying stir-fry dinner goes together in a flash. Serve over rice or your favorite Asian style noodles.
Yield: 4 Cups Serving Size: 1 Cup plus rice or noodles
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger 1/3 cup chicken or vegetable stock 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons oyster sauce* 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons cornstarch 3 tablespoons melted cannabis infused butter 4 teaspoons vegetable or canola oil, divided 1 pound peeled fresh medium raw shrimp 2 cups fresh trimmed asparagus pieces (cut each stalk into 4 to 5 pieces) 4 ounces sliced white, cremini, or shitake mushrooms 4 green onions, white and green parts, minced
Whisk together garlic, ginger, stock, vinegar, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, salt, pepper, and cornstarch until well combined. Whisk in melted cannabis infused butter until well combined and mixture is emulsified. You can alternately prepare sauce in a small food processor. Set aside.
Heat a wok over high heat. Add 2 teaspoons oil and swirl to coat wok. Add shrimp and stir fry just until cooked, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from wok and set aside. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to wok and swirl to coat. Add asparagus, mushrooms, and green onions to wok and stir fry until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Return shrimp to wok and stir to combine ingredients. Stir sauce and pour over ingredients in wok. Cook, stirring constantly, for about a minute or until sauce heats through, thickens, and evenly coats the food. Serve immediately over rice or noodles.
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* Oyster Sauce, a staple of Chinese cuisine, is a thick, dark brown sauce made from ground dried oysters. Available at Asian food markets or well stocked grocery stores, oyster sauce will keep indefinitely in your refrigerator.
* This dose is only a suggestion. Be sure to read and understand Calculating Cannabis Doses in Edibles before attempting to cook with marijuana.
Cannabis Infused Stir Fried Ginger Shrimp and Asparagus
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Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
Reprinted from The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook by Cheri Sicard; 2011 Z-Dog Media; ISBN: 978-0-9839888-0-9; $24.95.
Buttery toffee adds an extra dimension to an already great chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Yield: 26 Cookies Serving Size: 1 Cookie
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons canna-butter 2 1/4 grams kief or finely ground dried hash 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips 3/4 cup toffee chips 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 large baking sheets with vegetable shortening, or alternately line them with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
With an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream together the canna-butter, kief or ground hash, and brown and granulated sugars until well incorporated. Add the egg, and vanilla, and mix until just combined. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Stir in the chocolate and toffee chips and nuts, if using.
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons dough and press gently to form a flattened cookie. Repeat with remaining dough, placing cookies about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Let set for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature. Baked cookies will stay fresh for about 4 days in an airtight container.
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Freezer Friendly! Form dough into cookies and place on a baking sheet and freeze before baking. When frozen you can transfer the unbaked cookies to a lidded container or plastic freezer storage bag. When ready to eat, place frozen cookies on a greased or parchment lined sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for about 18 minutes or until browned.
Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Other Photography
All photography in this press kit is available for use in promotion or discussion of Cheri Sicard or The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook. If you require hi-res versions or digital copies of any of the photography, please contact Mitch Mandell @ [email protected]. All photography ©Mitch Mandell, any other use is strictly prohibited.
Cheri Sicard
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Cheri Sicard
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Cheri Sicard
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Reply Card
To receive more information about Cheri Sicard or The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook, please fill out the form below and email to Mitch Mandell at [email protected] or go online to http://www.cannabischeri.com/reply-card/ and fill out the form there.
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Receiving a review copy of The Cannabis Gourmet Cookbook. Scheduling an interview with the book author Cheri Sicard. Scheduling an interview with foreword author Lanny Swerdlow, RN, CNC. Receiving royalty-free re-printable recipes, photos and articles.
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