It started innocently enough. I was browsing my Twitter feed. “Food & Wine” Magazine tweeted, “Mario Batali unleashes his pot brownie recipe in honor of Denver making the Super Bowl,” and published the recipe. I thought it was quite funny that one of Michigan’s most venerated chefs was showing his playful side, and giving a nod to Colorado’s recent legalization of marijuana. So I retweeted Food & Wine’s tweet.
I am relatively green when it comes to Twitter (no pun intended). The power of the hash tag (no pun intended there, either) both impresses and baffles me. I recall last year when I favorited or retweeted something having to do with the boycott of Hershey’s over their role in banning British-made chocolate from being imported to the U.S. This earned me mild interest from others who supported the Hershey boycott.
I should have learned from that experience before retweeting Batali’s recipe. Shortly after doing so, I noticed a new “notification” on my Twitter app. Not only did I gain a new follower (a fellow who writes in a language I cannot decipher), but more thrilling, I was tweeted at by “The 420 Radio Show.” For those unaware “420” is a number, of hotly disputed origin, associated with marijuana use. Here is what @The420RadioShow wrote:
Hot off the rollers! The Daily Stoner News is out at our new site: http://www. DailyStonerNews.INFO/ via @Carl23b4 @gutknechtiff @nickroumel
For the record, as a licensed attorney, I am aware that Michigan does not share Colorado’s legal tolerance of cannabis, and that penalties for its manufacture, use, possession, or even cooking with the stuff can still be quite … high. But as an amateur chef paying respect to a famous one, I feel obligated to pass this one on to you. Please pass it on yourself (and don’t Bogart it, my friends).
Mario Batali’s Double-Chocolate
Pot Brownies
Batali Notes: “In honor of those Broncos, their crazy mile-high city, and their weed-friendly state, I’m offering a rocky mountain high option. (I’m actually making regular brownies but if you happen to be in Colorado or any other marijuana-friendly state, go for the add-in marked “Optional” below.)” Batali adds, “All of the expected disclaimers apply;” and as your legal counsel, I concur.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, cut into 4 equal pieces
4 grams high quality marijuana, cleaned and ground (optional)
1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
8 ounces milk-chocolate chips
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325° F. Grease an 8-by 8-inch baking pan.
2. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter, the marijuana (if using), and cocoa powder, stirring continuously until the butter is just melted. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the cocoa mixture to a large mixing bowl.
3. Let the cocoa mixture cool for 2 minutes. Add the sugar, chocolate chips, and vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Add the eggs 1 at a time, stirring so that each is well combined. Add the flour and stir until just combined. Do not over-mix.
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake on the center rack for 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with tiny crumbs.
5. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, cut into 9 squares, and serve. Or, store for up to 2 days in a tightly-sealed plastic container.
PS, in reading the recipe – which I have not tried – I was amused at direction #2. It suggests that marijuana can melt. I wonder if they teach that in cooking school?!
Nick Roumel is a principal with Nacht, Roumel, Salvatore, Blanchard and Walker, P.C., a litigation firm in Ann Arbor specializing in employment litigation. He also has many years of varied restaurant and catering experience, has taught Greek cooking classes, and writes a food/restaurant column for “Current” magazine in Ann Arbor. He occasionally updates his blog at http://mayitpleasethepalate.blogspot.com/.
