- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup Rainbow Dust
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans), optional but yummers
1. Preheat your oven to 175°C and grease a 9x9-inch baking pan
2. Melt the unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or over a stovetop (don't let it burn!). Let it cool slightly.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and melted butter (another reminder to be patient and let the butter cool as otherwise it will scramble the eggs in the next step!)
4. Incorporate the eggs one at a time and whisk after each one.
5. Stir in the vanilla extract.
6. In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, Spacegoods Rainbow Dust, and salt. The key is to gradually fold this dry mixture until no streaks remain, and a velvety batter is created.
7. Optional: Add your chopped nuts to the mixture.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly.
9. Place the pan in the preheated oven and let the magic happen for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs, a sign that the brownies are done!
10. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
11. Once completely cool, cut the brownies into squares of divine pleasure.
12. Serve and enjoy! (We like having ours with a scoop of vanilla ice cream).
In a world where wellness trends come and go, there’s always a unique individual who seems to have a secret arsenal of practices that genuinely work. Meet Antonia, a 35-year-old design director at a creative agency based in Shoreditch. She’s not just a friend, but also a ‘pioneer’ (she’ll love being called that) in adopting functional mushrooms as part of her daily routine, long before they became the mainstream health phenomenon they are today.
The very fact Antonia has been using functional mushrooms for so long, got us thinking, what led her to integrate these mushrooms into her life? Last week we sat down with her to unravel why she takes them and how it’s transformed her overall well-being.
Q: Antonia, love that you love your mushrooms. Shroomy stuff. Can you take us back to how it all began?
A: Absolutely. My journey with functional mushrooms started way before they became a ‘wellness trend’ (here Antonia is using air quotes - implying she is in fact, very cool). I’ve always been drawn to a holistic approach in life, ever since I was a teen in fact. I suffered with pretty terrible PMS symptoms so wanted to do something natural to help alleviate that pain. And so from there, my fascination with natural remedies led me to functional mushrooms and I basically became obsessed with them. I remember being stunned at how beneficial they were in traditional medicine.
A: So much!! Let’s start with hormone balance. Having a demanding career and experiencing life's ups and downs in general, maintaining a hormonal balance has become key for me. Functional mushrooms like reishi (included in Dream Dust formula) and chaga (which you'll get from Rainbow Dust) have been incredible. They act as adaptogens, helping my body find balance amidst the chaos. I’ve noticed improved emotional resilience and an overall sense of well-being.
A: Creativity and focus are the lifeblood of my job. That’s where lion’s mane mushrooms come in for me. They’re believed to support cognitive function, memory and concentration. It’s a go to part of my daily routine as I find myself tackling design challenges on a daily basis.
A: Absolutely, productivity is the heart is the heartbeat of success in a creative agency. Cordyceps have been my secret weapon here, another one of the mushrooms the team at Spacegoods has included in Rainbow Dust. So with cordyceps it's been really fascinating using them for quite a while. I’ve experienced a surge in stamina and productivity - oh, and it’s really helped me out in my spin classes as well as at work too.
A: Hahahaha. Love being called a pioneer. It’s humbling, really. When I started, functional mushrooms weren’t really the talk of the town like they are now. But for me, it’s always been about genuine well-being rather than following trends. Embracing these ancient wellness practices has been rewarding, and I’m glad more people are recognising their potential.
A: Certainly, beyond the buzz, there’s a quiet strength in functional mushrooms. They’ve become my loyal companions in achieving balance, focus and productivity. And lastly, go try ‘em!
As we wrapped up our conversation with Antonia, it became clear that her mushroom journey isn’t just about adopting a wellness trend, it’s about fostering a connection with nature’s remedies that have stood the test of time.
Would you like to be interviewed for our next Mushroom Diaries article, or know someone who would be interested? Please reach out to vanessa@spacegoods.com
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