Thursday, January 29, 2009

A Balanced Diet








Almost everyone is still talking New Year's resolutions and diets and those that aren't are all about the chocolate for Valentine's Day. Chocolate is great, don't get me wrong, but my heart lies with the marshmallow. And all that stuff about you are what you eat, well, there just may be something to that. My friend Holly, from Sweetheartville came for a visit recently with her adorable sweetheart family and planted a seed. She had made marshmallows and said they were very good and not too hard to make. More and more on these icy evenings my thoughts turn to hot chocolate and marshmallows. Which I think is more about the mallow and hot than chocolate. I had seen Martha Stewart make them before, but just because Martha can do, certainly doesn't mean that I can. But this evening I will embark on the journey and I'll let you know how it turns out.
UPDATE:
Just for this month, this year, today, right now, I wish my name was Marsha, so I could say I just made Marsha-mallows. Mission Accomplished! That announcement isn't premature as we've already partaken of the fluffy little morsels and deemed them great! Of course the hot chocolate made the "old fashioned" way with Hershey's cocoa, milk, sugar and vanilla cooked on the stove helped make them ooey gooey and delish. The perfect end to a cold winter day.
French Laundry Marshmallows
3 envelopes of unflavored Knox gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar for dredging
Preparation:In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for 10 minutes. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute. Pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. Add vanilla and incorporate into mixture. Scrape into a 9 x 9-inch pan lined with oiled plastic wrap and spread evenly. (Note: Lightly oil hands and spatula or bowl scraper). After pouring marshmallow mixture into the pan, take another piece of plastic wrap and press mixture into the pan. Let mixture sit for a few hours. Remove from pan, dredge the marshmallow slab with confectioners' sugar and cut into 12 equal pieces with scissors (the best tool for the job) or a chef's knife. Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners' sugar. Yield: 12 large marshmallows

8 comments:

Nicole Merkens said...

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Christopher A. Klingler said...

Hope you have a great weekend MARSHA!!! LOL '-P)

Me (-:

Jeanne Estridge said...

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Why is everything about Marsha(mallows)? Probably because they're delicious -- they certainly look it!

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm going to call you Marsha anyway! I am sick and I think there is a special place in hell (where else to toast the perfect marshmallow?!) for someone who taunts others with delicious little fluffy treats when they can't make them for themselves.... But when I am better and can stand the idea, I am going to whip up a batch. You make them look SOOoooOO good.... Did you share with Woogie?
xoxo
Karen

mary schweitzer said...

YUM!! Thanks for sharing!
I love everything sweet.
Check my blog, I gave you an award.
Mary

Anonymous said...

Wow! I've never-ever even heard of homemade marshmallows!

Coincidentally as I read this post I was savoring the last marshamallowy bite of a Boyer Mallow Cup candy!

I'm going to copy your recipe and save it and try to make them someday. I'm glad you included the photos.

Anonymous said...

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