Kush Queen, CBD, and Small Business Saturday. 

The past 4 years of Kush Queen have been an incredible journey of love, growth, perseverance, and of course, CBD. Waking up every day to share our passion in a rapidly growing market, we have experienced our highest highs and some courage-required lows. But I can attest to every second being worth it. 

Take a read through our reflections and a photo scroll through memory lane!

What a Year for CBD Momentum and Market Conditions

2019 will always be a historic year for CBD. With the Farm Bill passing in the Senate and the House in early December 2018, the new year promised to be an exciting growth year for CBD.

At the time, Kush Queen was experiencing incredible growth. Our team was evolving, constantly improving and making production adjustments to ensure we are creating the same high-quality CBD experience with every single handmade product.

Mid-summer, payment processing in the CBD industry came crashing down. Many in the industry went months with no ability to accept payments online and had to face tough decisions to keep their business afloat. 

Through the grit and determination of our team and the patience and loyalty of our customers, Kush Queen made it through that chapter. As a small business innovating in a rapidly expanding industry we cannot say thank you enough to our customers, fans, friends, and family for the support. For example, on the eve of our first big mainstream event, one of our lows transformed right into one of the highest highs – BeautyCon LA. 

Kush Queen Is Visibility, Wellness, and Innovation

In the same spirit of getting our dream up and running like Amazon, Google, and Disney, we started Kush Queen in our family garage. The Kush Queen brand was born out of our sister company, The Crystal Cult. The Kush Queen was a vape that turned into the beginning of a community. So many kush queens were out there but the cannabis industry’s male slated products left room for a newcomer with a different vision. 

Kush Queen grew out of a community of like-minded individuals wanting to create a different type of space – a creative outlet for cannabis-derived health and wellness.

Our vision is to create a space for anyone to gain access to high-quality health and wellness products made from the healing cannabis plant. 

It’s All-Hands-On-Deck  

It takes a village, including you! We are a small, family-operated business. We’ve got a tight-knit crew of people that all believe in a dream of making things better. From CBD to our workplace vibe, the Kush Queen team is dedicated to one another and making the best CBD products on the market. We’re savages but like the kind you want to invite over to sesh with and meet your mom! With every challenge we face, we turn inward, use our products, innovate and move forward!   

Thank You For Supporting Our Small Business

Our passion for this plant and its power to transform lives keeps us motivated! Thank you for believing in our dream. It is with gratitude we operate every day from the heart and it is our privilege to have you as part of our family. 

The irony of small business Saturday is that it was started by a corporation. A corporation that will not do business with CBD companies. The irony is really so 2019. 

And with that, we pour some CBD on it! Stock up on CBD with the holiday sale going on now. 

By: Kate Marley

When you think of summer foods, what comes to mind? Grilled foods, crisp tropical fruits, ice cream?

For me, when hot weather rolls around, I get intense cravings for salads. Cold, crunchy, healthy salads that make you feel fresh and light. There’s something always so delightful about raw veggies in the summertime. However, I also know that salads can get boring sometimes, especially if you eat them all the time. 

Today, I’m going to share three amazing vinaigrette/oil-based recipes made with Kush Queen CBD oil, and show you what types of salads I used them for.

Chimichurri for Steak Salad

Chimichurri is a raw, parsley-based sauce originally from Argentina. It’s overwhelmingly fresh and sharp and works so well when paired with red meat, citrus, and salt. And it’s actually pretty easy to make, as long as you have access to a blender! 

I just tossed all of my ingredients, minus the CBD oil, in a small blender, and pulsed until it reached a nicely chopped, semi-emulsified consistency. You may have to add more olive oil as you go. I also definitely added a little too much garlic the first time around, which hits you right in the face when it’s raw. But hey, it’ll definitely keep you healthy.

I added two full droppers of CBD after my other ingredients were blended.

I used my chimichurri to top a giant steak salad, packed with raw vegetables and even an elote-style corn salad. My sauce was thick and potent and made every bite delicious.

Easy Lemon Vinaigrette for Greek Salad

This vinaigrette is the simplest of the three because there’s no blender involved, and honestly, you don’t even have to pre-mix the ingredients if you’re feeling bold. 

It’s just olive oil, CBD oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. That’s really it! It’s the perfect base vinaigrette to add to, with ingredients like cayenne pepper, cilantro, etc. I kept it to the basics for this batch but don’t be afraid to experiment.

I used my lemon vinaigrette for a fresh and summery Greek salad. Crunchy cucumber, peppery onion, sweet tomato, and salty feta are all it takes to toss together something delicious. I also recommend adding avocado or olives for an extra kick. Well, now I know what I’m making for dinner later.

Raspberry-Orange-Poppy Vinaigrette for Peach and Goat Cheese Salad

I absolutely love fruit-heavy vinaigrettes. They add sweetness and tartness with more depth than lemon juice alone. This pretty-in-pink dressing gets its flavors from orange juice, orange zest, and fresh raspberries. The poppy seeds are optional if they’re not your jam, but they’re mostly tasteless and you get the added benefit of fiber and vitamins. 

I throw my fruits, juice and half of the olive oil in the blender first, leaving out the CBD and poppy seeds.

Strain the mixture through a sieve to remove all the raspberry seeds. It doesn’t add a very nice texture if you leave them in, in my opinion.

Add the remaining olive oil, the CBD oil, and the poppy seeds and whisk well. Sometimes raspberries and oranges end up on the tart or sour side. If you find your dressing is a bit more mouth-puckering than you’d like, it’s super easy to add a little bit of honey or sugar until you’re happy with the sweetness. And that’s it! 

I used my vinaigrette for a fruity, vibrant salad. I topped peppery arugula with fresh peach, tangy goat cheese, and red onion. I made a decently large batch of dressing, and it’s great for different types of salads—try it with grilled chicken or even seasoned tofu, if you’re vegetarian!

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Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories.

Ready to add CBD to your favorite recipes? Shop Bare CBD oil by Kush Queen below!

By: Megan Lyn Farley

When Kush Queen decided to open itself up to Wholesale clients, we had no idea the effect it would have on us. We have been so inspired by the overwhelming number of small business owners who show up and support us, and the Kush Queen brand. We count ourselves lucky to have some powerful, educated, cannabis activists all over the country sharing our products with their customers. We just couldn’t resist sharing some of these hardworking entrepreneurs with you!

Today we are featuring one of our very first Wholesalers, My Green Room LLC out of North Carolina. Thanks to their fearless, passionate and kind-hearted leader, Joellyn Woodward, a brand new audience of people have been able to learn about and experience the benefits of CBD!

Joellyn, the owner of My Green Room, is a 10-year cancer survivor, Mother, Grandmother, and Newlywed!! Congrats are most definitely in order!! Besides her obvious love of all things Hemp, she enjoys NCAA Basketball, Krishna and bonfires. Her desire to help others has been life long, and it is no surprise that she found a way to do just that, every day, at her shop.

How it Started

Joellyn didn’t choose to open her shop on a whim. After using cannabis to help with her Cancer, Chronic PTSD, Bipolar 1 and Chronic Panic Attacks, she knew she had to spread the word. She put in the time to learn about the plant and its benefits so that she could share her knowledge with others. She had dreamt of opening a Cannabis dispensary for years, but because of the Cannabis laws in North Carolina, it just didn’t seem possible. During a family vacation to Myrtle Beach, she stumbled upon a little shop selling CBD products and felt a rush of joy. She knew the time had come. Hemp was federally legal and she was ready to start selling! She did the research, found brands she believed in and by January of 2018 she was in business.

My Green Room started out selling at Craft Shows and Bike Rallies. Joellyn shared her favorite CBD products with a new audience and people took notice. After stumbling upon Kush Queens CBD Bath Bombs by a fluke chance in early 2018 she knew they would become a staple among her customers and has been carrying a variety of Kush Queen products ever since.

In the Summer of 2018, My Green Room officially opened their first brick and mortar shop. A 400 square foot spot in the back of a building. Less than 6 weeks later they were upgrading to a space double the size, right out front! On April 20th of 2019, they made yet another upgrade, this time to a 3,000 square foot facility! They are home to the first (and currently only) hemp smoking bar and lounge in the area. Their rapid growth is proof that people are falling in love with CBD, and there is no slowing down in sight.

The Struggles

It is important to note that running a CBD business is no easy feat. While hemp is federally legal there are still a number of roadblocks facing brand owners and retail shops. From having her merchant accounts shut down, her money withheld from her, her social media accounts being deleted, high percentage fees at every turn and pressure from local law enforcement, Joellyn has experienced many of the struggles first hand. Lucky for us, and for her loyal customers, she can’t be stopped! She rolls with the punches, bounces back stronger and continues to push forward. Why? Because she believes in and understands the value of what she and her team have to offer their community.

The Payoff

Not only has CBD allowed Joellyn herself to improve her mental health, quit tobacco and get off a variety of medications, but it has allowed her to help so many others do the same.

“Watching people start living a better quality of life makes all the spreadsheets worth it,” says Joellyn. My Green Room has helped 29 people (and counting) regain sobriety from hard drugs and pills. They have created jobs in a small and struggling county. Every day their team is educating people on the many ways CBD can improve lives. In turn, real peoples lives are being changed, for the better. Joellyn says “The best reward is hearing customer ‘s success stories.” That, right there, is the payoff.

For the Love of Kush Queen

When it comes to Kush Queen products Relieve, Melt and Defynt are among the favorites at My Green Room. Joellyn told us that Relieve was the first Kush Queen product she ever tried, she fell in love immediately and since using these products her skin feels healthier than ever! We freaking LOVE that!

When asked if she wanted to add a little something extra, Joellyn said this…

“Kush Queen is family. Being a female business owner, I look to the Queens as a model. KQ has extended us so much love, support and goes a million extra miles. With my husband needing a full liver transplant, the Kush Queens reached out to help.  My dispensary would not be nearly as successful if not from the incredible guidance and support KQ extends to My Green Room.”

*We are Blushing*

Honestly, there are no words to truly say Thank You to Joellyn and the My Green Room team. They have stood by our brand through thick and thin. When we were overwhelmed and working hard to expand with the growing demand of CBD, they were patient, kind and understanding. This is why we are so grateful to Wholesalers like My Green Room. We hope that you will reach out and show them a little love as well!

Shop Kush Queen at My Green Room

If you are in Rutherford County and want to grab some CBD (maybe some Kush Queen Bath Bombs *Wink, Wink*), we highly recommend that you swing by My Green Room to see all they have to offer! You can visit their website for more information, including their location. Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram @mygreenroomllc and if you get a chance to stop by, tell Joellyn we say hello! … And try out that Smoking Lounge for us!

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Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop and @kushQueenco in your Instagram posts and stories!

Looking for a Retailer like My Green Room, near you?

Search our Store Locator below or head to your local CBD shop and tell them to contact us!

Last Friday I stepped outside and was instantly met with the first 90 plus degree day of summer. My edges curled back, my thigh gap got sticky and for me, that can only signal one thing. The beginning of golf season! Yes, you heard that right, golf. The sport that has generally been associated with rich old white men, is the sport that this little brown girl has been playing since she was 7. Growing up in the scorching Texas heat, and then playing for four years during college in Georgia, I’ve had my share of long achy nights trying to recover from carrying golf bags for 6 hours each day. I wish I had Kush Queen back then to help me with the stress of playing golf, as well as a CBD post workout routine to help with muscle soreness recovery.

3 Steps To My CBD Post Workout Recovery

It never fails that the morning after playing a round of golf I wake up feeling sore all over. The kind of soreness that makes you question why you ever choose to move your body in the first place. My neck is tight, my shoulders burn and my head hurts so badly I feel hungover. That’s when I know it’s time for my CBD post workout routine. Now that I’m an adult I’ve incorporated a routine for getting rid of soreness. This plan also works as a killer self-care routine after a stressful day of work or play!

Step 1: Add CBD to your morning smoothie

I’m a creature of habit and that extends to my food. I have the same smoothie every morning. I know that might sound monotonous but try it out for yourself, and I think you’ll understand why I’m so crazy about it. 

• 1 cup of frozen Blueberries
• 1 frozen banana
• 2 tbs of nut butter (I prefer Justin’s Honey Almond Butter)
• Dash of Cinnamon or to taste
• 1 tsp honey (or you can soak dates, just make sure they’re pliable before blending)
• 1-2 Droppers of Kush Queen BARE CBD Tincture
• 1-1 1/2 cups of oat or nut milk
• 1 tbs of chia seeds or flax meal (optional)

Blend until smooth. Not only will the smoothie help to give you nutrients to feed your depleted muscles, but adding CBD will help with the inflammation from your workout and relieve any stress you might have so that you can start your day in a more calm state of mind. Bonus!

Step 2: Take a morning bath. I know, crazy right?

Who says baths are just for the evening? There’s nothing more luxurious to me than taking a hot bath, lighting some candles and putting on a podcast at 10 am on a Saturday. Well, that is until you add in our next step. Since my back is feeling like it’s going to start tweaking, I reach for the Kush Queen CBD bath bomb in RELIEVE. With 25mg of Pure CBD and notes of Organic clove, birch, and rosemary, this bath bomb helps me create the spa of my dreams in the reality of my apartment.  

Step 3: Rub Melt on your aching muscles

After you finish soaking, treat your muscles to the cooling sensation of Kush Queen’s CBD Lotion, Melt. As soon as the Melt touches my skin I can feel my senses relaxing. Spoiler alert, after steps 1-3, my CBD post workout routine has me feeling like putty and so ready to dig into step 4.

Step 4: Stretch!

I’m a big believer in foam rolling. It hurts like hell, but once your muscles are nice and relaxed from your previous pampering, it feels like the perfect cherry on a day full of recovery. Stretching helps to keep your muscles loose and warmed up. It gives me an opportunity to breathe and clear my mind.

You don’t have to be a golfer to have a CBD post workout recovery routine. Try this out after your next crazy hard CrossFit or spin class. We ask a lot of our bodies and we need to make sure that we’re pouring love and healing back into it.

By: JS Brunson

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Do you have a CBD Post Workout Routine?

Don’t forget to follow, tag and share your Kush Queen CBD Post Workout Routine with @kushqueenshop in your Instagram posts and stories.

Ready to add CBD to your Workout Routine? Shop Kush Queen below!

I am most definitely a coffee person, but I do love me a good cup of tea. I take mine with milk and honey served up in my favorite Alice in Wonderland mug. It is an experience for me and has become part of my self-care routine. Drinking tea has so many benefits for our health and wellbeing, and every type of tea offers a little something special for you and your body to enjoy. You can sip for energy, sip for stress relief, sip for a good night’s sleep and even for your skin and organ health. That is a lot of benefits! So when I heard that Kush Queen launched a tea-inspired CBD Bath Bombs Collection, my heart fluttered. I can bathe in my tea too? Yes, Please! 

But wait? Do I want to bathe in tea? Does it have any benefits as a topical or is it just for fun? These were some of the questions swimming through my mind, so I, of course, decided to do a little research. What did I learn? Bathing in your tea… highly recommended. Many of the properties in tea leaves also have amazing benefits for your skin and wellness. When paired with the already beneficial ingredients that make up Kush Queen CBD bath bombs – Like High-Quality CBD, Epsom Salt, Baking soda, and essential oils – the benefits are only increased! 

Photo: @quartermoonco for Kush Queen

So what are these benefits I speak of? I will get to that, but first I want to chat about Dry Brushing. If you have not heard of Dry Brushing, it is definitely something worth looking into. It is the simple act of using a natural fiber brush, preferably with a long handle, to massage the skin without moisture. Starting at your feet you will gently rub your skin clockwise in a circular motion, slowly working your way upward. Not only is this process relaxing, but it is a great way to prepare your body to receive maximum benefits from your bath time. It exfoliates the skin, increases blood flow, stimulates the lymph nodes, detoxes the body, and can even reduce the appearance of cellulite. Your skin will feel fresh and new before you submerge yourself into that tub sized cup of tea. Such a great way to take your self-care to the next level. 

Now back to those beautiful Kush Queen Tea Collection Bath Bomb Benefits! 

Photo: @thiscannabislife for Kush Queen

MATCHA CBD BATH BOMB

Matcha Tea actually contains chlorophyll which is a wonderful detoxifier and has been known to remove harmful toxins from the body as well as fight free radicals. Matcha may also assist in decreasing your body’s sebum production. This can help to treat and prevent body acne and may even add a layer of protection from harmful UV rays. 

Photo: @thiscannabislife for Kush Queen

EARLY GREY CBD BATH BOMB

Earl Grey Tea contains Vitamins B1, B2, E and H, all known for their abilities to keep your skin feeling soft and smooth. You will also find Antioxidants in this tea which will keep your skin healthy and hydrated while fighting those pesky free radicals. 

Photo: @thiscannabislife for Kush Queen

CHAI TEA CBD BATH BOMB

Chai Tea is my favorite tea, and not just because I’m basic! The cinnamon and Clove in your Chai tea (and Bath Bombs) can help to improve blood circulation which will reduce swelling and puffiness and give you a nice glowy complexion. This tea is also ultra-hydrating and may assist in reducing the signs of aging skin! 

Photo: @quartermoonco for Kush Queen

PRO TIPS: 

• Pour yourself a cup of tea to enjoy while you soak. Your skin will receive all those amazing benefits from the inside out. (And you can feel really fancy while you do it). 
• A Spice Girls playlist may also enhance these benefits by filling you up with joy and empowerment vibes. 
• For those of you who prefer not to soak in the tub surrounded by loose tea, which I personally LOVE, that does not mean you can’t enjoy these Classy AF Bath Bombs! Grab yourself a large organza drawstring bag, place the bath bomb inside it, and add to your tub. You will get all the Bath Bomb goodness, but the bag will hold onto the tea leaves for you. Like a Tea Bag for your tub. 

Photo: @quartermoonco for Kush Queen

I hope that you found some helpful self-love inspiration here, and are excited to start your own tea inspired skin-care routine. However you choose to incorporate tea, your body will thank you for all those tasty benefits!

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Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories.

Ready to add CBD and Tea into your Skin Care Routine? Shop Kush Queen below!

By: JS Brunson

As a still relatively young millennial, I have some thoughts on the state of womanhood. For as much progress as we’ve made in being seen as independent and free-thinking humans; like letting our arm hair grow out and not smiling in every damn photo, there still seem to be more products than ever promising us that by using it we’ll somehow feel freer. Unfortunately, I hadn’t had much luck in finding that ideal product, until now. And I’ll tell you early on, that that product is Kush Queen’s Defynt CBD Skin Serum. 

Made with 100mg CBD, this serum is like applying a 60-minute meditation session directly to your face. Talk about a #lifehack, am I right! But let me back up a little bit and explain why you need this serum in your life. 

I recently turned the big 3-0. If I’m being honest I was terrified. I had so many assumptions about what being thirty would mean. Wasn’t I supposed to have it all together by thirty? The perfect guy, the perfect job, a house with multiple rooms, a cute dog and an Instagram worthy proposal on the way? Well, I do have a great boyfriend, but the rest are just ideas that have gotten as far as my Pinterest boards. I spent the last month of being twenty-nine stressing out! I was depressed about where I thought I should be and then upset with myself for not checking my privilege and getting down in the first place. Oh, it was a vicious cycle. 

As I’m sure you know stress plays a very big part in how our skin reacts. I don’t say this to be annoying, but I’ve always had pretty good skin. Thank my long-ago African ancestors for that, but during that time my stress was causing some irritation on my skin. I was so dry my lips began to crack, I had the darkest under-eye circles, and generally looked consistently exhausted. 

I knew I needed to make a change. I needed to treat my skin better. That’s when I decided to try out the Defynt Anti-Serum. Now, I’m not a product junky by nature, I still use the same Origins face wash that I first discovered in high school. Hey, if it isn’t broke why fix it right? So needless to say I was a bit skeptical that this new product would do much for me now. 

I got up the next morning ready to try out the serum. I washed my face (using my Origins thank you very much), toned with Dr. Thayers witch hazel and applied a dime-sized amount of the Defynt Serum to my face. Within a few moments, I could instantly see my puffy eyes calm down. It was like my face opened up and smiled after months of neglect. 

What I didn’t expect was how calming the CBD skin serum made me feel. I woke up with a slight headache and after applying the serum my headache cleared up and I felt like I could actually get my day started on a positive note. I made sure to apply a light moisturizing sunscreen after the serum to lock in all the goodness.

I’ve been using the Defynt Anti-Serum for a month now and not only has the overall puffiness of my skin gone down, but I’m less grumpy in the morning. Added bonus according to my boyfriend! 

So hey, maybe I don’t have it all figured out. But now that I’m safely and deeply into my 30th year of life, I’ve realized that adulthood is what you make it. There are no rules, there are no standards. I live my life to make me happy, and that now includes taking good care of my skin. 

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Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories.

Ready to take your skincare routine to the next level? Shop Defynt below!

By: Rochelle Herman

I have an unapologetic and infinite sweet tooth. I will gladly skip dinner so I can have pie ala mode or a delicious infused brownie ala mode. But it’s summertime…and I completely agree, some desserts are just too heavy during those stifling Summer months, plus you don’t want to ruin that summer bod you’ve been working on. 

That’s why this summer dump cake recipe, or ‘Ugly Cake’, is perfect for indulging your sweet tooth while keeping that summer bod. Dump cakes, by title alone, are meant to be so easy you just dump the ingredients in a pan and bake it. Foolproof. The name “ Ugly Cake” came from a friend of mine, who recently was lovingly enjoying the cake and stated, “This Cake sure is Ugly, but it’s delicious.” Having had made, and enjoyed it half a dozen times now, I and my friends would absolutely say it turns out ugly every time. 

So, how could a cake possibly be good for your summer figure? It’s cake right?! Pure sugar?

Well, this cake is made with a box of Angel food mix, a bag of frozen berries, whatever berry screams summer to you, and some sparkling water. To make it CBD infused, just add a few droppers of Kush Queen bare CBD tincture. This is actually an imitation of an old Weight Watchers dessert, and it turns out to be a super low-fat option.

This is a recipe I’ve used for years. Back before I really knew how to cook or had the “courage” to cook from scratch. Before I had the trust in myself to follow copious amounts of directions. I have in fact destroyed many a delicious idea in my past. Dill in homemade spaghetti sauce for instance…was a terrible and disgusting idea. The coveted idea being a delicious homemade spaghetti sauce. Sometimes it’s nice not to have to think about it, and just dump and go. Enter my “Ugly” Cake creation.

Now, how you choose to share this as Ugly Cake is up to you. It could be served a playful joke because you know you’re not a trained baker, and not everything you make turns out bakery floor ready. Served lovingly and dressed up to your liking with powdered sugars and whipped creams.

OR… you could use it as a telling sign, a way to stick it to your guest, so to speak. Maybe your horrible in-laws are coming over, or your bully of a boss, or even a “friend” who you know really just comes over to smoke all your weed. A real master mooch. WELL… Let them eat Ugly Cake. And really make a point to say it to them. “Here, enjoy some Ugly Cake!” As you smirk and haphazardly drop it on the table. Cheeky, but also tasty.

How ever you choose to enjoy it, here’s how you make it.

Grab any loaf pan or casserole dish you have. Dump a bag of frozen fruit in it. I chose a bag of Mixed Berries which had, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Don’t worry about greasing the pan first. Just dump. Add a bag of Angel food cake over the frozen berries. Angel food cake is what will keep this summer-friendly, as it is light and airy and lower in carbs and sugar, but any box of cake will do. Open a can of Sparkling water, I chose some with Lemon flavoring to add another flavor kick because any dessert with lemon in it is a good idea to me! Pour the sparkling water over the cake mix and frozen berries. That’s it. 

If you’d like to make this recipe CBD infused, then after you’ve added the sparkling water, you will add a full dropper (or more to your dosing desires) of Kush Queens bare CBD tincture and mix it together. Just grab a spoon and give it a Gentile stir, making sure the CBD is fully incorporated, evenly through the cake mix. 

THEN…bake it at 350 for 50 min. It may not look pretty, but it will be devoured by you, and any friend or family member you choose. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is if you’ll have enough for later, when the midnight munchies hit.

The lightness of the Angel Food Cake combined with the brightness of the mixed berries and lemon, make this one of my go-to summer recipes and one I don’t feel the least bit guilty about eating all on my own!!

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Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories!

Want to try adding CBD to your favorite sweet treats? Grab a bottle of Bare Daily Wellness below!

By: Kate Marley

Okay, I might still be on a rainbow kick. I’m not at all sorry, though, rainbows are delightful. This week, I’m back with another rainbow veggie recipe, but this time, we’re keeping the veggies raw and bright. It’s always so hot in July, and there’s nothing I’d like more than to continue my fresh, cold, crunchy food trend. 

And whether it’s July or December, salad weather or soup weather, I’m honestly always craving Vietnamese and Thai food. I moved away from my favorite Thai restaurant in February and my life just hasn’t been the same since. I miss it every Friday. My typical Thai orders involve satay chicken and spicy curry, but no meal is complete without summer rolls. They’re addicting even though they’re so simple, and making them at home is not as hard as it seems. Plus, summer rolls are often served with peanut sauce, and I could bathe in that stuff (Kush Queen hasn’t approved a  peanut sauce-scented bath bomb yet, so I guess I’ll stick to the Citrus and Matcha bath bombs for now). But this peanut sauce is twice as dope because it’s got a healthy dose of CBD oil. Who knew you could make peanut sauce even better. 

Summer rolls are actually Vietnamese, but have become popular in Thai restaurants as well. They are different than spring rolls—it’s summer name was a seasonal play on spring rolls—primarily because they are not fried, and are usually a little bit bigger, but sometimes the terms are interchanged. Though I love a crispy spring roll, I prefer the refreshing chill from a summer roll. They’re often made with shrimp, but are also made with chicken, tofu, and just veggies on their own. It’s an all-around wonderful and versatile meal that’s easy to make too much of.

The most time-consuming part of this recipe is cutting up your rainbow veggies. I recommend julienne-style so you get an easier mouthful but also because it’s easier to roll. It always takes me forever but it’s worth it, I promise. In this recipe, I’ve also added a hint of sweetness with a few slices of strawberry and mango in my rolls. Once that’s done, everything else is smooth-sailing. Usually.

While you’re cutting your vegetables up, bring a pot of water to a boil. When the water is bubbling, add your vermicelli rice noodles and stir. Be mindful, because these noodles are very thin and do not take as long to cook as traditional noodles, it’s easy to forget about them. But if they’re overcooked, they’ll turn to mush in your hands and won’t make nicely-shaped rolls.

Prepare an ice bath for the noodles (ice baths are simply ice and water in a bowl that will shock your hot foods and immediately stop the cooking process). When your noodles are ready, strain them and toss them in the ice bath. When the noodles have cooled, I like to drain them and sprinkle a bit of rice vinegar and salt on them. I do the same thing when I make sushi rice, and I like the flavor it adds to the rolls.

Next, we’ll make the peanut sauce. I like to do this prior to assembling the summer rolls, because I find that summer rolls will do one of two things the longer they sit: they either get too soft and sticky and tear easily, or they get stiff and chewy.

The peanut sauce is so quick that you can throw it together in the microwave. You could also heat it on the stove, but I’m all about shortcuts. Combine all the ingredients except the Bare CBD oil in a small bowl, and microwave for 15 seconds at a time. Depending on your honey and peanut butter, sometimes it can come to a boil quickly. I love crunchy peanut butter and think it adds a nice additional texture to the sauce, but creamy peanut butter works great, too. When the sauce is hot and the peanut butter melts with a quick stir, add the CBD oil. If you cook the sauce too long and it becomes thick, I find adding a little extra water at a time smoothes the sauce out and makes it much easier for dipping.

Lastly, let’s assemble!

Prepare a hot water bath in a wide bowl. It needs to be a higher temperature than lukewarm, but needs to be comfortable to the touch. Take one sheet of rice paper wrapper at a time, and submerge the sheet in the water. After a couple of seconds, place the wrapper on a cutting board or smooth surface. I like to dangle a very small bit of the wrapper from the edge of the cutting board to make it easier to grab.

Layer your ingredients. I usually start with noodles first but there’s no hard and fast rule. If you add a decorative top, like I’ve done with my fruit, place them slightly above the rest of the ingredients. It will help separate them with a wrapper layer and they’ll stay clean and pretty.

When I roll, I start from the bottom and follow the same rules as burrito-wrapping. Bring the bottom over your primary ingredients, and pull in slightly to tighten the wrapper around. Then, fold the left and right sides over. Lastly, continue to roll the rest of wrapper up, pulling inward to yourself with just enough pressure to keep everything tight.

You can cut your rolls in half, or in quarters, if you’d like. I really enjoy keeping them whole because I lose less filling when I dip them in the peanut sauce. However you’d like to plate them, I hope you enjoy them. I know I could eat them every day and never get bored. So, continue enjoying the rainbow this summer and save yourself a few bucks on delivery!

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