When In Doubt -- Eat Chocolate

Since my last post on Mercury Retrograde, I've heard from many, many of you who are experiencing similar issues.  I've gotten a lot of questions about what mercury retrograde is and how it effects us.

Mercury Retrograde occurs when Mercury decides to travel backwards.  Since Mercury is the planet of communication, when it goes backwards anything that involves communication -- travel, contracts, email, letters, electronics, discussions with others, meetings at work -- can all go awry.  Mercury usually retrogrades three times a year.  Last year, it retrograded four times.  Ouch.

Mercury will travel direct again on August 26.  It's important to be aware of the retrograde periods.  It's not a huge deal.  Every planet -- except the sun and the moon -- retrogrades.  But Mercury is like your annoying little brother.  He enjoys upsetting you.  That's why I think it's important to at least know when the retrograde periods are so you can prepare yourself.  Some astrologers refer to a Mercury Shadow phase and believe that we can feel the effects of Mercury Retrograde 2 - 3 weeks prior to its actual retrograde date.

Mercury's next date to retrograde and wreak havoc?  Are you ready for this?  November 24.  Yes, Americans, you read that correctly.  Thanksgiving Day.  God help us all.  It will go direct again on December 14.  All I can say is this:  I will have all my Christmas shopping done by November 23.  You might think I'm crazy, but I did it last year, I can do it this year.  And I will practice LOTS of deep meditation before my family arrives on Thanksgiving.  Let's start sending light to that date now!

In the meantime, there's always chocolate.

Here's my favorite chocoholic recipe for those of you who love chocolate and peanut butter combined -- perfect lovers of sweet and salty in my studied opinion.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies:

1) Make the brownies:  You can either use the recipe below.  Be forewarned; it's a very rich recipe.  Alternately, you can use a mix.

Brownies:

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tbl. water
2 cups of chocolate chips, divided
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baling soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13 x 9 in pan.  Combine sugar, butter and water in a microwavable bowl and microwave for 2 - 3 minutes until butter is melted.  Stir in ONE cup of chocolate chips.  Stir gently until chips are melted.  Stir in the vanilla and set aside.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl.  Beat eggs one at a time into chocolate mixture.  Slowly incorporate the flour.  Stir in the remaining cup of chips.  Spread batter into pan.  Bake 25 - 30 minutes.

When the brownies are done, set them atop the oven.  Then take a 12 ounce jar of peanut butter, put it in a microwavable bowl and melt it in the microwave.  Pour over the warm brownies.  Place this in the refrigerator to cool.

While that's cooling, make your ganache.  Place 9 - 12 ounces of chopped chocolate in a bowl.  Heat about a cup of heavy cream on the stove.  Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until melted.   Then pour over the peanut butter.  Place the pan back in the refrigerator until firm -- about an hour.  Then cut into tiny, tiny bite size pieces because, trust me, these are very, very rich.

Enjoy!