Holiday Cookies
Not another gift guide
Did you see that a rich, creamy shade of brown, was named the Pantone 2025 Color of the Year?
Mocha Mousse is a focus on harmony and return to nature. “It’s about reframing experiences, understanding the importance of little pleasures and living in the moment,” says Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute. “It could be a sweet treat, a nature walk – the whole idea is about personal comforts and indulgence.”
*ping* An email from Kiva hits my inbox the morning of Pantone’s announcement:
“We saw the new Pantone color for 2025 come out and my goodness it looks like our chocolate! Might you be able to “whip”up a quick recipe reel for a mocha mousse with Kiva chocolate for us?”
Hell yes I can. The color was chosen as an answer to our desire for a sense of calm connection, comfort, and nostalgia. The soft, warm tones envelop us into a cozy blanket of silky chocolate, coffee, and whipped cream.
“A mellow brown hue whose inherent richness and sensorial and comforting warmth extends further into our desire for comfort, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others.”
Vol. 42 // In this Issue
Holiday Cookie Recipe Inspiration
Not Another Gift Guide
Podcast: Jazz Cabbage
HIGH-ly Recommended Events
Your Guide to Holiday Cookies
It’s cookie season! Looking for inspiration? Try a few of my favorite recipes:
Soft, chewy gingerbread cookies with a Nightmare Before Christmas vibe, or make classic iced gingerbreads. Elegant and delicious Ginger Lime Shortbread Cookies with pressed flowers make a beautiful gift. Peanut Butter White Chocolate Chip are my friend Roger’s favorites and personal request. Blue Oreo-Stuffed Cookies inspired by Cookie Monster. As seen on TV, I made these Black Sesame Rainbow Crinkle Cookies on Hulu “Baker’s Dozen.”
Hot Chocolate cookies with gooey toasted marshmallow are better than a mug of hot cocoa. Also inspired by a cozy weather drink, my London Fog Earl Grey cookies are one of my favorites and have won many a family holiday cookie bake-off by those who’ve made the recipe. Green and pink swirly Matcha Dragonfruit Swirl Sugar Cookies are a dream come true.
Not cookies, but they fit in the holiday treat realm. I’d to make baklava as a kid with my bonus grandma during the holidays. Gluten-free F-Yea! Krispy Bars make everyone’s eyes roll to the back of their heads in food-gasmic ecstasy. Weed brownie trifecta with a trio of recipes inspired by Khalifa Kush, including Ube Cheesecake Brownies, Peppermint Chocolate Brownies, and a Lemon Brownie. Press the easy button with this no bake, 3 ingredient chocolate truffle recipe I made with Kiva.
What kind of holiday cookies are you baking?
Not Another Gift Guide
I’m making cookie tins as holiday gifts this year rather than buying gifts and things. But sometimes delightful “things” show up in my life that just work. No affiliate links here, just a few favorite things I genuinely enjoy.
For the person who can never find their lighter, this Blazy Bling magnetic lighter leash by Moonray Resin is the bling I didn’t know my Session Glow bong needed. I’m delighted by the time saved not searching for lighters. On the same note, I’m no longer losing my phone or digging in my bag or pocket for my phone with ColbiCat’s Linq’d chunky phone strap. Not only is my phone at my side at all times, the colorful chunky chains double as fashion accessory and self-protection weapon.
A one-of-a-kind gift for sungrown lovers, the 12 Jays of Christmas holiday preroll collection represents community and best of the Emerald Triangle that supports the Humboldt Craft Growers Collection and small, craft farmers. Sonoma Hills Farms Holiday Survival Kit includes the very precious Pink Jesus, Secret Breakfast, W**d & Vegetables tote bag, and exclusive Herbs de Petaluma hemp salt herb blend from Chef Chris Cosentino. Show some love and support to the hardest working farmers I know and adore.
For gardeners who love digging their hands in the dirt, give the gift that gives back – seeds and seedlings from my friend Emily at Grow It From Home. One plant can yield more flower than you know what to do with. On a budget? Plant cuttings, propagating easy-to-grow house plants, and upcycled plastic containers as plant pots are FREE.
If you’re considering an infusion device to level up your homemade edibles, here’s my honest take. You don’t need a fancy device to decarb and infuse. A mason jar and stove or oven is all you need to get started. Before you buy, try using a mason jar first to get the hang of it and then decide which tool fits your style. LEVO looks beautiful in my kitchen and I like the customization options, but I rarely use it and have lost small parts in the kitchen sink garbage disposal. When I do reach for a device, Ardent is my favorite for its efficiency, ease of use, and convenient silicone sleeve for easy clean up, but it’s not cute and the purple color doesn’t match my kitchen.
Buy less. Shop local. Support small businesses.
LISTEN TO THIS
Jazz Cabbage
A new podcast on Heritage Radio Network about unpacking the historical relationship and cultural interplay between c*nn*bis and cuisine, hosted by culinary storyteller, cultural artist, and former Bon Appetit editor Chala June.
Through thought-provoking interviews with chefs, farmers, entrepreneurs, and experts, Jazz Cabbage aims to explore the plethora of ways in which both food and cannabis can be used as tools for building personal wellness, community connection, and social awareness.
Chef Wendy Zeng and I are interviewed on Season 1 Episode “Building Community through Infused Dining” about our personal journeys, friendship, and creating Mogu Magu. I loved listening to the episode as it was one of our most raw, and deeply real recorded conversations.
I can’t wait for the next chapter of Mogu Magu. Listen on Apple | Spotify
“Eating good food changes us on that cellular, vibrational level, when we’re able to pull from our past and our heritage. It allows us to create moments of healing that have a ripple effect through our ancestry, heritage, and timelines.”
– Chala June, host of Jazz Cabbage
HIGH-ly Recommended Events
12/10 - Elevated Sound Bath Meditation hosted by THCnTechno along with Sacred Sounds by Devon, elevation by Master Makers, and henna by Mehndi at Zula Den. | Los Angeles
12/14 - High Tea Humboldt, a traditional hash and gong fu cha tea pairing curated and led by fellow Budists Alex and Nikka. | Humboldt
12/14 - Christmas in the Valley, an auction and charity dinner benefiting Celebration Nation, a non-profit that serves and uplift the Indigenous/Latino community through nutrition, education and resources. | Fresno
12/15 - Chill Spaces Let’s Make Merry, a collaborative Filipino community event series to make chill, hosted by Geraldine Mae Cueva, the Chillanthropist of the Art & Times of Chill. Listening party with emerging artist Lotti, arts and crafts, holiday cookies, and a wood-fired pizza party. | Northeast Los Angeles
12/17 - Fleur Nouveau, a harvest showcase and tasting of fresh sungrown flower with my favorite farmers, including Radicle Herbs, Moon Made Farms, Sonoma Hills Farm, Arcanna Flowers, and Sol Spirit Farm. Hosted by Budist, Poet, and TheWoods. I’ll be there along with Chef Wendy and our fellow Budists. | West Hollywood
SAVE THE DATE – UPCOMING EVENTS CO-HOSTED BY YOURS TRULY
3/1 - Big Spicy, a six-course hash pairing dinner hosted by Canna Culture Club x Mogu Magu | Northeast Los Angeles – NEW DATE
March 2025 - Hash Rules Everything Around Me, an educational hash workshop with cannabis scientists Miyabe Shields and Riley Kirk, presented by Mogu Magu. | Northeast Los Angeles
Spring 2025 - Blue Dream Tasting Party, a nerdy deep dive and exploration of the beloved strain. | Los Angeles
COMING UP FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS
Inside the World’s Largest C*nn*bis Cultivation Facility
I went inside Glass House Farms’ greenhouse in Camarillo, California for a Creator Day tour along with 12 other plant-enthusiast creators and influencers. This mega-farm took over a tomato and cucumber farm which spans 160 acres filled with 20 greenhouses.
This controversial company harvested over 232,000 pounds of cannabis in the previous quarter Q3 2024. Compared to all of Humboldt County which produced 220,000 pounds, according to reporter Lester Black’s SFGate article.
I’ll take you inside with me and share more insights about what it’s like inside the high-tech green houses of Glass House Farms. Upgrade to paid to get the story delivered straight to your inbox.
Happy baked baking! Christina W.