Gooey, rich and utterly irresistible. Indulge in the ultimate dessert. 

Ingredients:

- 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

Instructions:

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). 

Today, we’re going to be talking about mushrooms and no we’re not talking about the ones you can buy from your local supermarket such as Tesco’s. We’re talking about ✨magic mushrooms ✨and specifically why and how it’s changed people’s lives for the better. 

So what exactly are magic mushrooms? 

Shrooms are mushrooms that contain a compound called psilocybin. When ingested, psilocybin interacts with serotonin, the body’s ‘feel good’ hormone in the brain, altering the state of perception, thoughts and emotion. This my friends, is what we call a psychedelic experience or journey and is one of the main reasons people take them. 

If you’ve never tried them before, you might be wondering what it feels like. According to TalkToFrank - a platform that has everything you need to know about drugs and their effects, this is what it feels like (although this will vary from person to person). 

How you might feel:

“The strength of magic mushrooms varies depending on their freshness, the season and where they grow. 

For most people, the world appears distorted when they take mushrooms. Colours, sounds, objects and even time can all seem very different. 

Some people get mild hallucinations, which are also called ‘visuals’. 

Taking mushrooms can make you feel: 

- very giggly 

- euphoric

- in awe of the people and things around you 

- energised

- excited 

It can also make you feel: 

- paranoid 

- anxious 

- panicked

- overwhelmed

- nauseous"

 Source: TalkToFrank

What are the benefits of psychedelic mushrooms? 

One of the most intriguing benefits of shrooms is their potential to alleviate mental health issues. Research has shown that controlled, guided sessions with psilocybin can lead to profound experiences that significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

“These drugs can increase neuronal outgrowth, they can increase this branching of neurons, as well as the synapses. That’s called neuroplasticity” - Mycologist Paul Statmets.

In depressed people this gives them the opportunity to hinder the continual self critical thoughts that occur and potentially grow new branches of neurons. They can then lay down more positive pathways through practising something as simple as gratitude. This can be life changing for some, with many individuals reporting positive changes in their mood and outlook after such experiences. 

Psilocybin also appears to promote increased connectivity between different regions of the brain, leading to heightened creativity as well as enhancing learning and memory. This has the potential to enhance problem solving skills and boost overall cognitive flexibility. 

It’s important to note that the use of psychedelic mushrooms should always be approached with caution as they, after all, have unpredictable effects! Nevertheless, the growing body of research suggests that these shrooms, mushies, magic mushrooms - whatever you’d like to call them, hold significant promise in reshaping our understanding of mental health treatment and cognitive enhancement.

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. 

Q. You just mentioned functional mushrooms helped with your PMS symptoms. What other ways have mushrooms impacted your life? 

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. 

Q. Your role as a design director requires immense creativity and focus. How have functional mushrooms contributed to that aspect of your life? 

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. 

Q. And what about productivity, which is crucial in your line of work? 

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. 

Q. Your approach to functional mushrooms seems well ahead of its time. How does it feel to be a pioneer in this wellness ritual? 

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. 

Q. Alright, last question - could you round up your mushroom journey in a few words for our readers?

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 [email protected]