Thursday, July 21, 2011

Mellow Fellows Marshmallows






Making these all started with a debate on wether i could make marshmallows better than the ones in Lucky Charms. Of course i said i could make them better! I mean no matter how bad you mess up in one batch of homemade marshmallows,  they would be way better than store bought ones. So i made some, and i am going to show you how!









What ya need to make ‘em
1 cup of water (1/2 cup ICE COLD)
3 envelopes of plain unflavored gelatin
1 cup of corn syrup
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1/4 tsp of salt
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1 cup of powdered sugar (approx.)
13x9 baking dish
Parchment paper
Sifter (to distribute powdered sugar evenly)
Candy thermometer
Stand mixer, lubed with oil
Oil or Non stick cooking spray
Rubber Spatula
Medium
Now to make ‘em.....

Place 1/2 cup of ICED COLD water into your stand mixer. Add the 3 envelopes of gelatin. Set aside. (Don’t mess with it! It will fix itself!)

In a small or medium sauce pan add in the other 1/2 cup of water, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of corn syrup, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Place the lid on the pot and place over medium high heat. Now depending on what heat source you are using (gas vs. electric) the time will vary from 3-8 mins. Basically, we are waiting until it comes to a boil and the condensation that accumulates on the lid will run down the side of the pan and whisk away any sugar crystals. This is important! Do not try to do this with the lid removed! Once as you have reached a boil stick in your thermometer and let the mixture boil away until you reach 240 F. (7-11 mins) Once as you reach 240, IMMEDIATELY remove from the heat. 
  Now back to the gelatin.Turn the mixer on low and get it mixing. Add just enough of the boiled syrup mixture until it becomes workable. Then slowly add in the syrup with the mixer on low. Once as all the syrup mixture is integrated turn on high and beat just until the mixture is luke warm, about 12-15 mins.

While the fluffiness is mixing, lets prepare the pan! Grease or spray thoroughly. Then completely cover with parchment paper. Grease/spray again and sift on enough powdered sugar to completely cover every nook and cranny. Now, back to the fluffiness-Right before it is done mixing add in the tablespoon of vanilla extract. Turn the mixer off and place into the prepared pan using a greased rubber spatula to prevent sticking. 





Smooth out the top so it is even and top with more powdered sugar. Let sit in a cool place for at least 3 hours and all the way up to over night. When you are ready to cut them, turn them out on to a cutting board and remove the parchment paper. Using kitchen sheers or a pizza cutter that has been dipped in powdered sugar, cut into 1 inch cubes. Place these cubes into a gallon size baggy filled with 1/2 - 3/4 cup of powdered sugar. toss them all around and pour them back into the 13x9 pan and let them finish setting up. (About an hour) After setting up, sift away the excess sugar and place in gallon size bag. They keep for about a week! Enjoy! Note: In these i added food coloring.

Note: Also i will be making s'mores kits-coming soon! 

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Zucchini Bread

To me, this is one of the dishes that sounds really weird and like it would be nasty but when you try it it turns out being delicious! This recipe is so simple, and yet oh so delicious. I’ll show you how i did it.



Ingredients:
~2 cups of grated Zucchini (Make sure to ring it out well. We don’t want that excess moisture messin’ with our bread)

~3 Eggs
~2 cups Flour (I like a mix of half whole wheat and half white ap flour)
~2 teaspoon Cinnamon
~1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground Nutmeg
~1 teaspoon Salt
~2 teaspoons Baking Soda
~1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
~2 cups Sugar
~1 cup Vegetable Oil (or grapeseed oil if you've got it!)
~1 Tablespoon Vanilla
~1 cup of Nuts (optional)
Beat eggs for a few minutes in your stand mixer until well mixed and light (If you have one it makes just makes it a lot easier but if not you can still do this by hand).

In a small separate bowl mix together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and the grates rung out zucchini. Make sure that the zucchini is well covered with all the flour and spices. Add in sugar and beat of medium for 2 more minutes.
Slowly add oil and vanilla. Next add the dry mix with the zucchini into the eggs sugar mixture.



Stir and add nuts if adding any. Pour Batter into 2 loaf pans that have been thoroughly rubbed with butter. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until when a tooth pick is inserted it comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before turning out of the pan. Slice and Eat!