Homemade Marshmallows.....because some post do not need fancy titles
It was nine years ago when a friend hosted several families in her home for trick or treating in her neighborhood. Here in South Louisiana, we may get our first feel of Fall right around Halloween night. I remember this night well....I had made pumpkin crabmeat soup to warm our bones before the trick or treat hayride, and she made HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS. Can I tell you, I skipped the soup and went straight for the marshmallows.
I had never in my life had a homemade marshmallow before, but I have had them every ever since. I know it was nine years ago because it was right after I had, had her marshmallows that I spend Thanksgiving at my mom old house in the red clay hills of Philadelphia, MS.....Dixon to be exact.
Now Philadelphia and Dixon are both in Neshoba County. Philadelphia is on the map because it is the home of the famous Neshoba County Fair and the Choctaw Indians have two casinos and a waterpark there on their Reservation. BUT Dixon???? It is probably a few dirt roads, a church and a few hidden cemeteries. It's SMALL!!! There is nothing to do in Dixon besides deer hunt if you have access to the hunting and swinging on a front porch reading magazines. I am not a hunter so that leaves me with the swing and the magazine.
So, when I say I remember that my first experience with a homemade marshmallow was 2010 (it's now 2019) I know this because the Thanksgiving right after that Halloween, when I was in Dixon on the porch, flipping through a MISSISSIPPI Magazine, there it was in black and white.....a recipe for homemade marshmallows. Mississippi Magazine the November/December 2010 issue. I made a copy of the magazine page in which the issue is printed on the bottom of the page. (November/December 2010 Mississippi page 57)
You might say that a finding of that sort right after the Halloween of my first homemade marshmallow was nothing but coincidence, but I say it was a sign that I needed to start making my very own marshmallows. I made them the Christmas of 2010 and every years since. I have even been known to give them as gifts. You don't know what your missing and better yet...your hot chocolate doesn't know what it is missing.
So don't wait any longer!!! From your Halloween nights all the way till the New Year and it's even appropriate for Easter, won't you join me in my tradition of making homemade marshmallow for the entire holiday season.
HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOW
3 (1/4 ounce) envelopes of unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cups light corn syrup
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
Confectioners' Sugar
- Cover inside of a 9x13" pan with aluminum foil; coat with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large heatproof mixing bowl, combine gelatin and cold water, stirring well.
- Meanwhile, combine sugar, corn syrup, hot water and salt in a heavy saucepan over medium - high, stirring until mixture boils.
- Stop stirring, and heat to 240 degrees, on a candy thermometer.
- Pour mixture into gelatin.
- With mixer, whip until mixture double in size, fold in vanilla.
- Using a spatula, spread mixture evenly into prepared pan.
- Allow to cool and set, uncovered, overnight.
- Using a serrated knife dipped in warm water, cut the marshmallows. TIP: I don't dip the knife in warm water. I lightly dust the top and sides (pull away from side of pan) of the marshmallow with confectioners' sugar. Then I cut making sure to sprinkle the confectioners' sugar when needed in cuts.
- Cut into 1 1/2" cubes.
- Toss marshmallows to coat with confectioners' sugar. Store at room temperature in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
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