Homemade Marshmallows - I Will Create Food!

 

In our house marshmallows are not just for camping trips.  While they are a coveted treat while sitting around the campfire, they get just as much love throughout the rest of the year.  As much as we love them, we have noticed the store bought versions have become more dense and sugary lately. After looking into making them ourselves, we discovered that not only are they fairly easy to make, but the homemade marshmallows are lighter,  fluffier and have more flavor.

You will need:

3/4 cup powdered sugar 

1/2 cup cornstarch or potato starch 

Cooking spray, for coating the baking pan

4 1/2 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin (about 2 [1/4-ounce] packets)
3/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon fine salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Besides the ingredients you will also need an 8x8 pan and an electric mixer with a whisk attachment

Start by mixing the powdered sugar and corn starch together.  This will be a powder coating to prevent the marshmallows from sticking together.  

Prepare the 8x8 pan by lightly spraying it with cooking spray.  (to achieve a lighter coating, refrain from letting your 4-year-old from doing this step)  Add a couple of spoonfuls of the powdered sugar/corn starch mixture and shake the pan until it has a nice even coating.

Next whisk the gelatin with 1/2 cup of the cold water. Put this on the side for a minute.
Now add the sugar, 1/4 cup of the corn syrup, remaining 1/4 cup water, and salt in a medium saucepan.  Bring it to a boil, stirring until it hits 240 degrees.  While waiting for the right temperature, microwave the gelatin for 30 seconds. Add the rest of the corn syrup and the gelatin to you mixer and start it on low.

Once the mixture on the stove reaches 240 degrees add it to the mixer also.  Turn the speed up to medium and let it whip for 5 min.   After 5 min increase the speed to medium high for another 5 minutes.

 

Your mixture should be looking mighty fluffy at this point.  Add your vanilla (and/or any other flavors you want)  and increase the speed to the highest setting for a few minutes.  

Pour your marshmallow fluff into the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly to the edges.

Dust the top with more of the powdered sugar/corn starch mixture. (put the rest of the powder mixture on the side to use after the marshmallows set up.)  Put the pan in a cool, dry place for at least 4 hours (overnight works best)

When they are all set up, flip the pan over onto a cutting board.  Use a pizza cutter dusted with your powder mixture to cut out bite-sized marshmallows. 

After cutting, toss each piece in the powder mixture to prevent them from sticking together and store in an airtight container.   They will keep for several weeks (although they probably won;t be around for that long)

Happy May The Fourth and Free Comic Book Day!

May The Fourth Be With You - Star Wars Day

May the Fourth is Star Wars Day.  We are big Star Wars fans. (Which may be the understatement of the year.) Therefore, logic dictates that we will be celebrating.   Star Wars is a worldwide institution with countless fans and it has it's own day to celebrate all it's glory.  There are various ways you can get your geek on to commemorate the occasion.

You can:

1. Watch all 6 movies (this one's obvious, but important nonetheless)
2. Have a lightsaber battle throughout your neighborhood (bonus points if you can get passerbys involved)
3. Go to a bar/restaurant with a live band and convince them to play the song from the Cantina bar
4. Have a Wookie calling contest from the tallest hill you can find
5. Head to Card Kingdom and try one of the several Star Wars themed games
6. Have a creative party and craft yourself some awesome Star Wars tchotchkes (head over to StarWars.com for some great ideas)
7. Get a Star Wars themed tattoo (only for advanced Fans)
8. Host a dramatic reading of one of the many Star Wars novels
9. Take some time to create your own Star Wars fan film (See ours here or check out some awesome ones here)
10. Be Vader for a day and tell your kids you are their father (or mother) in a loud and raspy voice as much as you can

Whatever you do, Have Fun!    And May the Force be with you!

Scream For Ice Cream - Free Scoop Day @ Cupcake Royale

Wednesday May 1st is Free Scoop Day!  Go to your local Cupcake Royale and get your ice cream needs met...For FREE!!!

Spare Gutter + Soil = Recycled Planter - Create A Custom Window Box

Historically our house has had a love/hate relationship with gardens.  We love to garden and hate it when our plants die.  This year the 4-year-old has made it his mission to change that.  He has been the driving force behind our renewed gardening efforts.  He has selected the plants, set a watering schedule and loving placed random toys in the planters.   We needed more planting room in a limited space so we created our own planter from a recycled gutter.  First we drilled some drain holes along the bottom of the gutter about 18" apart.  After cleaning the gutter, we filled it with soil and planted some lettuce and basil. A couple of zip ties to attach it to the railing and our planter was done.  Our balcony is beginning to look like an oasis thanks to our little green thumbed gardener. 

Revel In Stories of Derring Do - Free Comic Book Day

Everyone dreams of being a superhero.  Even if it's just a little bit.  And as super powers tend to involve things such as radiation, mutation and/or death of a loved one, I've stopped trying to get them.  The next best thing is living vicariously through the people who have them.  That's where Free Comic Book Day comes in.  Free Comic Book Day is the first Saturday of May (this year is May 4th) in which comic book companies give out special comic books through your local comic book store to introduce you to new heroes and story lines. It's a great way to explore and expand you comic book knowledge.  And possibly find new powers to dream of. http://www.freecomicbookday.com/StoreLocator

Walk Into Fantasy - Fremont Troll

There are not many places where you can come face-to-face with mythological creatures.  And there are even fewer chances in the city.  Which is why the Fremont Troll is such a magical creature.  Built in 1990 to protect and transform the area under the Aurora Bridge, the troll has become a Seattle icon.  The Troll is holds a full size VW Beetle under his hand and holds court at the top of his own street, Troll Ave. This is one of our favorite stops on neighborhood hikes, with the 4 year old proclaiming him "Friend Troll" and the 11 year old figuring out how to put his head in the Troll's nose.