homemade marshmallows

These little treats have become a new Christmas staple for me to make. After making so many other things from scratch, I began to wonder if those nasty-styrofoam-tasting-marshmallows bought at the store might possibly have had better origins at one time. When I tasted homemade marshmallows for the first time, I honestly never wanted the others in my drink again.

For those of you thinking this might be too hard….don't worry, it's not too hard, and the results are amazing. You probably have all the ingredients on hand already. My son thinks they are some fluffy-goodness candy. 

Whip until thick.

Let set, uncovered, for four hours or overnight.

Enjoy!

So here is the recipe. (It makes at least 9 dozen of these medium-sized marshmallows).

Homemade Marshmallows 

(Alton Brown)

Ingredients

3 packages unflavored gelatin

1 cup ice cold water, divided

12 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

Nonstick spray

Directions

Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with 1/2 cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.

In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from the heat.

Turn the mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. Once you have added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.

For regular marshmallows:

Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Lightly spray a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.

When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

doodle books

I bought these blank magnetic doodle boards on Pick Your Plum. I wanted to customize them for each of my kids, so I used washi tape and fabric bows. Here they are:

Blank doodle book

Inside of doodle book

Washi tape

Girl doodle book

Another girl doodle book

Boy doodle book

flower button gloves

These are my favorite pair

Another do-it-yourself Christmas gift.

My sweet Elauna wanted to make each of her girl friends from church a gift this Christmas. It was so fun going to JoAnns with her and watch her come up with ideas. Each department would be a new idea, and I knew if she was anything like me (which she is), we would be there all day thinking up creative ideas.

She found these gloves and I thought we could add something to them and we would have a cute, but practical, gift she could give. She picked a different color for each friend.

Supplies:
Buttons (I keep a jar for each color group) - I chose white for this project
Felt or light-weight wool (I have wool rounds for making rugs)
Gloves ($1.00 almost anywhere this season)
Hot glue gun

Step 1 - Cut the flower shape in 3 different sizes
Step 2 - Assemble flower and hot glue together with button on top
Step 3 - Hot glue to gloves....all done.

Supplies

Flower cutouts with button

Gloves assembled

for the kitchen help

My children love to help me in the kitchen while I am working. They like to help with the dishes, mostly because they can play in the bubbles....and they like to sample whatever I am making at the time too. Frederick and Elauna spend hours playing pretend cooking and I thought this year for Christmas I would make them all something they can use when they are playing and when they are helping me.

I made each of my kids child-sized aprons, oven mitts, and pot holders. They are coordinating colors, but I definitely wanted Frederick's to look like a boy, not flowery like the girls. I made my own pattern for each then sewed them up.


Elauna's

 Frederick's

 Claire's

fat quarter project

More handmade Christmas ideas, this time using a fat quarter. A fat quarter is a quarter of a yard of fabric, and they measure 18" x 22". I have a little niece coming soon and wanted to make something for Momma A. I found some cute coordinating fat quarter pieces and went to work.

The first thing I made was two burp cloths. I quartered my fabrics and rounded the corners. Next, I faced the top sides together and sewed the edges, leaving a little space to invert, just as you would a pillow. Then I stitched around the outside to close the hole and put a border around the cloth. Finally, I worked on light-colored fabric and sewed a basic design that matched a pattern in the fabric. It helps the fabric not to seperate after washing or using several time.

I used the same fabrics to make a bib. I cut the design out of both fabrics and put back-sides together. I applied my velcro in the top corner. (I use the velcro that has adhesive on the back to you can place it where you want it and sew in fast later.) I then sewed my edging on using a coordinating blue.

All done. Pretty quick and easy, but oh, so cute.

lots-o-knots scarf

I love my big chunky scarf and wear it all the time - with everything. It is super simple to make and I wanted to share the steps, since it is Christmas and many of us are making our own presents.

Step 1 - Find a chunky/thick yarn. Cut 18 strands to 108 inches. My scarf is 6-feet long. A good rule of thumb is to cut your strands to 1 1/2 times the length you want your scarf to be. (A six-foot scarf is 72 inches times 1 1/2 gives you the 108 total inches).

Step 2 - Divide the strands into six sections of three strands each.

Step 3 - Knot every two sections together to start the scarf. (See below). Then knot the inner sections together, spacing a couple inches from the previous knotted row.

Step 4 - Continue this pattern until close to the end of the scarf. Finish scarf the same as started, with three knots on the end. Trim yarn on each end so it is the same length.

I wear mine looped around my neck to give it a fuller feel. You could also throw on a cute pin and change it up with whatever you are wearing.