Ear to the ground:

“They could pipe it into prison cells as a form or torture.”

– Recent local review of Bob Dylan’s Christmas album

Budding writer

Now that it’s safe to imbibe legally in Colorado, it’s time to get baking – literally. But what about those of us without a proverbial green spatula? Enterprising local green thumb and cook Corinne Tobias has cooked up a solution. Her new book, Wake & Bake: A Cookbook is believed to be one of the first, if not the first, legal cannabis cookbooks to hit virtual shelves. It became available Jan. 1 via her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/wakeandbakecookbook), and she plans to have it for sale at Colorado dispensaries and independent bookstores soon.

The project began in September when Tobias lived in Paonia, where she found herself surrounded by fresh marijuana prunings and an abundance of produce. She began infusing organic coconut oil with the trim and incorporating the healthy and potent alternative to butter in various recipes. The coconut oil was dubbed the “Green Monsta Oil” for its electric green color and its strength.

“Who doesn’t want to be the person who makes amazing weed truffles, cookies, pancakes and quiche? I really love being that person for my friends and family,” said Tobias. 

The book features organic, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free recipes, and includes an ingredient conversion chart so anyone can use the book regardless of dietary restrictions or preferences.

Tobias’ childhood friend Aja Kolinski signed on as the book’s designer, and in November, they launched a small Kickstarter campaign to fund the book’s first printing. In less than eight days, the project was fully funded.

 “After living in the North, the South and the Midwest, I never thought I’d live in a state where marijuana would be legal. It feels so free,” said Tobias. “All I could think about was how to teach home cooks how to use it in their own kitchens. It’s easier than you might think.”

Tobias has been an advocate for marijuana reform since 2008. She was 60 pounds overweight and has been diagnosed with scoliosis, degenerative disc disease and two herniated disks. Tobias began using marijuana for pain management, but credits it for completely transforming her health. She has been pain free since 2012.

Wake & Bake: A Cookbook will be available as a free ebook download on Tobias’ Facebook page for five days in January (hint: the dates are Jan. 10 and 24-26.) The book will also be for sale locally at Animas Trading Co. starting next week.