Homemade Marshallows

Martha, Martha, Martha....what you've made me become! It wasn't too long ago that I was a naive 19 yr old at UMASS Amherst. my mom gave me a package of chicken that she bought because it was sale at the grocery store. I went home to my roomies in Puffton Village...and said, what does one do with chicken??? We put it on a baking sheet sans foil, and ending up with a hot baked mess. Now that I think of it....I believe we resorted to throwing out the baking sheet so we didn't have to wash it.

So, imagine to my surprise that a couple years later, I'm Tivo'ing Martha Stewart instead of taping Jerry Springer. I'm watching Martha making marshmallows and think to myself..I can do that. So I did.

I bought it, didn't have a use for it, and cracked it open to flavor the marshmallows

My poor Kitchen Aid at work. I'm convinced when I turn him on, that my Kitchen Aid groans and says to itself...again lady...given me a rest! He's starting to really groan and work when he mixes. Husband even tried to google Kitchen Aid Mixer maintenance...but came up with nothing :(

My pan, covered in last year's 1/2 off holiday saran wrap, ready to go

This is 24 hour old fluff...that magically hardens into marshmallows!!! (Ok..maybe not so magically but more like because of the 3 packets of gelatin!)

I cut the marshmallows, and then threw them in some powdered sugar

Here are the little ones before they went for their sugar bath

Voila! These were the hit of my Yankee Swap gift at work. I tucked these puppies in a box with some cocoa and nips..hmmm..that'll make a cup of cheer!

Homemade Marshmallows

courtesy of my new favorite lady, Martha Stewart

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray

3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Confectioners' sugar, sifted, for coating

Directions:

Lightly spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line pan with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; set aside.


In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 10 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and, with the mixer on high, slowly pour the boiling syrup down the side of the mixer bowl into gelatin mixture. Add salt and continue mixing for 12 minutes

Add peppermint extract and mix until well combined. Spray a rubber spatula or your hands with cooking spray. Spread gelatin mixture evenly into pan using prepared spatula or your hands. Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place, spray side down, on top of marshmallows. Let stand for 2 hours.


Carefully remove marshmallows from pan. Remove all plastic wrap and discard. Cut marshmallows into 2-inch squares using a sprayed a sharp knife. Place confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Working in batches, add marshmallows to bowl and toss to coat. Marshmallows can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.