Cool summer nights scream fire pits and campfires. You really can't have a fire without marshmallows...it's like having cookies without milk or a movie without popcorn...or....I could go on and on. I won't fault you for whipping out the bag of Jet Puff, I've done it many times, but trust me when I tell you this; nothing compares to marshmallows made from scratch. You need to try making them at least one time this summer. It can be a little messy but it's definitely not difficult or scary. This recipe makes fluffy, chewy, melt in your mouth marshmallows...and best of all they taste incredible toasted over a fire. (Recipe below)
In in a large heat safe bowl sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold cold water, and let stand to soften.
I used a cookie sheet because I couldn't find my small metal pan, so these came out a little flatter then usual and obviously I wasn't able to fill the large cookie sheet with the amount in this recipe so I ended up with a little island of marshmallow in the middle of the pan. Worked out fine though. Just had to trim it to get squares after it set up.
My marshmallow island below sprinkled with confectioner sugar and ready to be refrigerated to set up.
Finished!
Eat your heart out Jet Puff! You can see the airy texture of these in the photo below.
Enjoyed by the fire.
Recipe:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 1/2 envelopes (2 tablespoons plus 2 1/2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water, divided into 1/2 cups
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup cold water, divided into 1/2 cups
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
1 tablespoon vanilla
Oil bottom and sides of a 13- by 9- by 2-inch rectangular metal baking pan and dust bottom and sides with some confectioners’ sugar.
In in a large heat safe bowl sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold cold water, and let stand to soften.
In a heavy saucepan cook granulated sugar, corn syrup, second 1/2 cup of cold water, and salt over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to moderate and boil without stirring, until a candy or digital thermometer registers 240°F, about 12 minutes.
Remove pan from heat and pour sugar mixture over gelatin mixture, stirring until dissolved.
Remove pan from heat and pour sugar mixture over gelatin mixture, stirring until dissolved.
Beat mixture on high speed until white, thick, and nearly tripled in volume, about 10-15 minute.
In separate medium bowl with cleaned beaters beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Beat whites and vanilla (or your choice of flavoring and any coloring if you want colored marshmallows) into sugar mixture until just combined.
Pour mixture into baking pan. Don't wrestle and fuss to get it all out of the bowl into pan...it's sticky and this is how you could end up with a mess. Pour out what pours out and leave what sticks in the bowl in the bowl (let the dirty bowl soak in soapy water).
Sift 1/4 cup confectioners sugar evenly over top. Chill marshmallow uncovered until firm (at least 3 hours, and up to one day)
Beat whites and vanilla (or your choice of flavoring and any coloring if you want colored marshmallows) into sugar mixture until just combined.
Pour mixture into baking pan. Don't wrestle and fuss to get it all out of the bowl into pan...it's sticky and this is how you could end up with a mess. Pour out what pours out and leave what sticks in the bowl in the bowl (let the dirty bowl soak in soapy water).
Sift 1/4 cup confectioners sugar evenly over top. Chill marshmallow uncovered until firm (at least 3 hours, and up to one day)
To remove, run a thin knife around edges of pan and invert pan onto a large cutting board. Lifting up one corner of inverted pan, with fingers loosen marshmallow and ease onto cutting board. With a large knife dipped in confectioners sugar, trim edges of marshmallow and cut marshmallow into roughly one-inch cubes. Toss marshmallows in remaining confectioners sugar.
Fresh flowers are great additions to indoor spaces. Alas, they are expensive and don't last very long, but if you have a garden, there's an abundance of blooms this time of year that can be enjoyed indoors. I prefer to keep arrangements simple, single stems or unstructured bunches look organic and stunning. Simplicity works well even if you don't have a garden to gather a huge bouquet in.
You don't even need a collection of vases for your indoor arrangements. Practically any container can work. This fern is in a root beer bottle that was washed and label removed.
Try displaying a branch from a small leafy tree or shrub in a large bottle or jug. You can take a walk and haphazardly gather a few wild flowers. A spray of seeding grass in a small vase works well or perhaps some moss in a low bowl....or a single fern leaf in a soda bottle like the one above. Whatever it is, gathering and displaying can add color, texture and joy to your indoor decor.
You don't even need a collection of vases for your indoor arrangements. Practically any container can work. This fern is in a root beer bottle that was washed and label removed.
Recipe:
2 8oz packages cream cheese
3 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 stick butter
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
8 graham crackers
3/4 cups chopped nuts
Butter a 9 inch square pan and dust with graham cracker crumbs. Mix crushed graham crackers with melted butter and nuts. Beat cream cheese with eggs. gradually add sugar and lemon juice. pour into pan and sprinkle with graham cracker topping.
Bake in 325 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Yeah garden before and afters! I've spent allot of time and considerable effort transforming a highly dumpy lot of land into a place you might not feel like you need a tetanus to walk around in. When I look back at these before pictures I wince and I'm not sure I could do this whole process again. Aside from some compost and watering, a little weeding and dividing now and again, my garden is finally pretty low maintenance. I'm not going to lie, it took years of work...getting down and dirty and allot of Advil! Come take a look.
Before (Nope I'm not joking)
The Garage (I can't even look!)
Now that you've seen the horror show, here is what it looks like today:
The Trees
(From top left clockwise: Japanese Lilac, Japanese Maple with tire swing hanging on White Pine, European White Birch, Yoshino Cherry in summer, Yoshino Cherry in spring)
The Views
(Ahhh now I can look at the garage and even call it a carriage house.)
The Objects
The Places To Rest
The Close-ups
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One big furniture trend right now is weathered and bleached wood furniture, like driftwood. I like the look because it's light, but some of the pieces I've been eyeing are thousands of dollars.
I've been holding onto this knotty yellow pine armoire not because I liked it, but because it was the first piece of furniture I bought when I was on my own. The longer it hung around though, the more outdated it started to look especially in the airy sun room. It was the perfect Guinea pig to try a do-it-yourself driftwood look.
I used Benjamin Moore paint in "Smoke Embers" in an eggshell finish and cut it with a little water to make a glaze. Since the armoire was rustic and didn't have much of a finish on it at all, it took really well to the glaze. I rubbed it on with a rag and then wiped it off with a clean rag forcing it into the grain. Yup that's it! Even I expected to have to glaze over with a darker color and then a lighter color, then perhaps do some sanding. But the glaze was all it needed and the process went really quickly. The whole project took no more then and hour and it's a big piece of furniture. When I have a some extra time, I'll likely throw a coat of paste wax on it. So, if you have any of this knotty pine circa 1995, grab the paint and water and glaze away!
I've been holding onto this knotty yellow pine armoire not because I liked it, but because it was the first piece of furniture I bought when I was on my own. The longer it hung around though, the more outdated it started to look especially in the airy sun room. It was the perfect Guinea pig to try a do-it-yourself driftwood look.
I used Benjamin Moore paint in "Smoke Embers" in an eggshell finish and cut it with a little water to make a glaze. Since the armoire was rustic and didn't have much of a finish on it at all, it took really well to the glaze. I rubbed it on with a rag and then wiped it off with a clean rag forcing it into the grain. Yup that's it! Even I expected to have to glaze over with a darker color and then a lighter color, then perhaps do some sanding. But the glaze was all it needed and the process went really quickly. The whole project took no more then and hour and it's a big piece of furniture. When I have a some extra time, I'll likely throw a coat of paste wax on it. So, if you have any of this knotty pine circa 1995, grab the paint and water and glaze away!
