yum; marshmallows

So a couple of years ago I got a Barefoot Contessa cookbook with a marshmallow recipe in it. I thought maybe someday I'd make it before we went camping for use on s'mores or something. Well, this winter it seems everyone is getting on the homemade marshmallow bandwagon and I just keep seeing them in hot chocolate on people's blogs. So, it was time for us to be trendy.

For the record, I don't really even like marshmallows all that much. They're too sweet. Yep, I'm one of those people. However, holy cow - they're amazing. Like, I might never buy marshmallows again.

Dessert tonight was Ghiradelli hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows. I didn't put all the sugar I could have in the hot chocolate (see above reference to my being a certain type of person) and so I can happily say that some good, slightly bitter hot cocoa with one or two marshmallows made for a seriously happy mama. Dad and Guthrie liked it too.

also, do you heart my new dishes??

guthrie likes using the 'fancy cups' and i do too!

Here's the recipe I followed:

Homemade Marshmallows:

nocoupons

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.

With a sieve, generously dust an 8 x 12-inch non-metal baking dish with confectioners' sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top and dust with more confectioners' sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out.

Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. dust them with more confectioners' sugar.

Yield: 20 to 40 marshmallows, depending on cut size

***** and in case you're wondering, i'd strongly advise those under the age of 5 finish their marshmallows a solid 2 hours before bedtime. because i don't know about you, but watching your child spin endless circles at 9:30 at night, while funny, is not actually that funny. however we were treated to several rounds of Five Little Monkeys, Frogs, Hot Dogs (really Ms Diane?) and Pumpkins a few of which I got on video.
For your viewing pleasure I present:
Five Little Frogs by Guthrie after a boatload of sugar and caffeine late at night.


can you believe a year ago we were getting her evaluated for speech problems because she could only say about 10 words? Crazy.
I could totally listen to her say 'delicious' all night.