homemade s'mores

I've started a Friday tradition with Sal by making a dessert to celebrate the end of the work week for NZ. I like having Sal in the kitchen with me--he's already learned so many utensil names and kitchen safety rules. Plus, his future partner will thank me.

A mom can hope, right?

We've been buying the haribo chamellows lately at metro when they have them. They're chocolate covered marshmallows. So simple, but so good. Nick really likes them. And dare I admit, so do I. With those fresh on my mind, I decided to tackle a cooking project that's been patiently waiting its turn in my Pinterest account for this week's dessert. 

Marshmallows. Maybe even chocolate covered, cause I'm an overachiever like that. 

Marshmallows

From Paula Deen

http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/homemade_marshmallows/

1 c cold water divided

1.5 c granulated sugar

1 c corn syrup

Dash salt

2.5 TBSP unflavored gelatin 

1-2 TBSP vanilla ( I added vanilla bean to it as well)

1/4 c powdered sugar

1/4 c cornstarch

Sal and I got our ingredients out and prepared a glass dish with butter. Sal started the greasing and I finished it off. We poured 1/4c powdered sugar and 1/4 cup cornstarch in the dish, covered it with Saran Wrap and shook the mixture around until the dish was coated. ( save excess powdered sugar/cornstarch in a bowl for later)

I poured 1 cup of corn syrup, 1 1/2 cups of sugar , dash of salt and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan outfitted with a candy thermometer. I dissolved the sugar on low heat and then cranked it up to medium high until the mixture reached 240 (soft ball stage).

I manned the bubbling corn syrup and sugar mixture while he poured 1/2 cup cold water into 2.5 TBSP gelatine to soften. 

Once the corn syrup mix hit 240 degrees I slowly poured it into our softened gelatine. Using my hand mixer (oh how I miss my kitchen aid) on high, I mixed and mixed and mixed (18 minutes total!) until the mixture turned thick and white. 

Then add vanilla and mix some more. My hand was dying at this point. I don't recommend a hand mixer for marshmallow making...but this is China and one day I'll laugh about that time I made marshmallows with my $3 Chinese hand mixer.

I then poured it into the prepared dish and shook powdered sugar/cornstarch over the top, patting it down to help from a crust.

Let it rest overnight. Or, if you're like me and impatient, five hours is sufficient. 

 

  I pried the sides up from the dish with a spatula and flipped it it into parchment paper to cut. Using a buttered knife, I cut the slab into strips, then  again into bite size chunks. Each chunk got tossed in the powdered sugar/cornstarch bowl until the sticky sides were gone. 

I planned to dip them during naptime.

One child napped, the other did not. There was no chocolate dipping. 

Unnnnnnnttttttiiiiil, Daniel Tiger came on tv. Daniel is what I like to call "magical sit still" tv. He's amazing, really. 

Suddenly I had thirty minutes to spare. 

So, I chocolate dipped them, right?

Nope. By then my mind switched to thinking how great s'mores would be.

So, I made graham crackers to go with my marshmallows. 

They were so easy to make. They're sugar and egg free to boot. 

Graham crackers

Recipe from 

http://feelinglovesome.blogspot.com/2012/02/recipe-homemade-graham-crackers.html?m=1

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Dash of salt

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 cup honey

Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. In separate bowl, mix honey with melted butter. Pour honey/butter mixture into dry mix until incorporated. Liberally apply butter to a large cookie sheet. Mine was toaster oven size (9x11). Press dough into cookie sheet. I used a glass to roll dough into a uniform thickness. Thinner is better since these do puff up while cooking. I used a knife to skor the "crackers" and poked holes in each one with fork tines. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10min. Separate the crackers and put them back in the (turn heat off) warm oven for an additional 5 minutes to crisp the edges more. 

Here they are.

You know what these guys need?

Chocolate. 

Yeah, that's right. Despite my littlest waking and my oldest ramming a cement mixer into my ankles, I married these guys with some melted chocolate afterall.

Life is good. 

Happy Friday everyone!