Month: May 2018

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Blueberry-Swirled Soursop Marshmallows

  (45 minutes + cooling time, makes about 50)

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
1/2 c. soursop puree (from frozen is fine)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
butter (for greasing the pan)
blueberry simple syrup for marbling:
– 1 c. blueberries
– 1/2 c. granulated sugar
– 1/2 c. water

1. Empty gelatin packets into bowl of stand mixer (whisk attachment), with soursop puree. Stir briefly to combine.

2. In a small saucepan (a bigger one will be heavy and hard to hold steadily at a later stage) combine water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Cover and cook over medium high heat for 4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the mixture reaches soft ball stage (240 degrees if you have a candy thermometer), approximately 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from heat; if it continues, it will swiftly turn into hard candy.

3. Turn mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. (Be very careful with the sugar syrup, as it is scaldingly hot and will burn you badly if it gets on your skin.) Once you’ve added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high.

4. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 minutes.

5. While it’s whipping, make simple syrup. Bring 1 c. blueberries, 1/2 c. granulated sugar, and 1/2 c. water to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring, then pour through a sieve. You’ll only need a few teaspoons of syrup; the rest of the berry mixture and syrup can be reserved for adding to yogurt, ice cream, spreading on toast, etc.

 

6. Butter a large 9 x 12 pan and dust with powdered sugar. Prepare an oiled spatula.

7. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly (and swiftly) with an oiled spatula. Add a few drops of blueberry syrup scattered across the top and drag a knife through the marshmallow, lengthwise and crosswise, to create a marbled effect.

8. Dust the top with enough of the remaining powdered sugar to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

9. Turn onto a board, cut into squares and dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining powdered sugar, using additional if necessary. May be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks, or frozen.

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Chocolate-Tamarind-Chili Marshmallows

When the kids have gone to bed, the grown-ups get their own marshmallows; tangy-sweet tamarind at the forefront with just a hint of chili at the end, dipped in luscious bittersweet chocolate.

1/2 c. tamarind puree
1/2 t. raw red chili powder or cayenne
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
butter (for greasing the pan)
14 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips
edible gold stars and crushed red pepper for decorating

1. Combine tamarind puree with chili powder. Empty gelatin packets into bowl of stand mixer (whisk attachment), with tamarind-chili puree. Stir briefly to combine.

2. In a small saucepan (a bigger one will be heavy and hard to hold steadily at a later stage) combine water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Cover and cook over medium high heat for 4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the mixture reaches soft ball stage (240 degrees if you have a candy thermometer), approximately 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from heat; if it continues, it will swiftly turn into hard candy.

3. Turn mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. (Be very careful with the sugar syrup, as it is scaldingly hot and will burn you badly if it gets on your skin.) Once you’ve added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high.

4. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 minutes.

5. While it’s whipping, butter a large 9 x 12 pan and dust with powdered sugar. Prepare an oiled spatula.

6. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly (and swiftly) with an oiled spatula.

7. Dust the top with enough of the remaining powdered sugar to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

8. Turn onto a board, cut into squares and dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining powdered sugar, using additional if necessary. May be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks, or frozen.

9. If dipping, melt chocolate (either in microwave on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, or over double boiler), stir until smooth. Dip each marshmallow and let dry on waxed paper. Immediately sprinkle after dipping (you can dip the whole set first) with crushed red pepper and edible gold stars.

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Strawberry and Soursop Marshmallows

Fruity with just a hint of tang, these are the marshmallows of summer. They’re the ones I’d make for a child’s birthday party — Kavya loves them best of all the ones I’ve made so far. Sweet enough to please the kids, but light and fruity enough to delight adults as well.

Soursop (also known as guanabana, custard apple, and Brazilian pawpaw) tastes something like a cross between strawberry and pineapple, with just a hint of banana. In northern America, your best chance at finding it is probably in Mexican grocers; look for frozen purees. Combine with fresh strawberries for a delicious treat!

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
1/4 c. soursop puree (from frozen is fine)
1/4 c. strawberry puree
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
butter (for greasing the pan)
red food coloring (optional)

1. Empty gelatin packets into bowl of stand mixer (whisk attachment), with soursop and strawberry purees. Stir briefly to combine.

2. In a small saucepan (a bigger one will be heavy and hard to hold steadily at a later stage) combine water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Cover and cook over medium high heat for 4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the mixture reaches soft ball stage (240 degrees if you have a candy thermometer), approximately 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from heat; if it continues, it will swiftly turn into hard candy.

3. Turn mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. (Be very careful with the sugar syrup, as it is scaldingly hot and will burn you badly if it gets on your skin.) Once you’ve added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high.

4. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, during this stage.

5. While it’s whipping, butter a large 9 x 12 pan and dust with powdered sugar. Prepare an oiled spatula.

6. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly (and swiftly) with an oiled spatula.

7. Dust the top with enough of the remaining powdered sugar to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

8. Turn onto a board, cut into squares and dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining powdered sugar, using additional if necessary. May be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks, or frozen.

Note:  I’m not sure how well they’d ship — I’m guessing they’d be less pretty on the other end. I’m not even sure they’ll stack well. But if you take dried strawberries and pulse them with a little powdered sugar, they make a lovely topping to strawberry-soursop marshmallows, adding an extra little touch of tangy fruit. Mmm….
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Fizzy Ginger Beer-Lime-Arrack Marshmallows

(45 minutes + cooling time, serves dozens)

Inspired by a classic Sri Lankan cocktail made with ginger beer, lime, and arrack, a bourbon-like liquor derived from coconut flowers.

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1/4 c. ginger juice
1/4 c. lime juice
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 c. ginger beer
1/4 c. arrack
powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
butter (for greasing the pan)
green food coloring (optional)
1/2 c. culinary crystals (optional)
crystallized ginger, chopped fine (optional)
crystallized lime, cut into thin wedges (optional)

1. Empty gelatin packets into bowl of stand mixer (whisk attachment), with ginger juice and lime juice. Stir briefly to combine.

2. In a small saucepan (a bigger one will be heavy and hard to hold steadily at a later stage) combine water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Cover and cook over medium high heat for 4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the mixture reaches soft ball stage (240 degrees if you have a candy thermometer), approximately 8 minutes. Watch carefully to ensure it doesn’t overheat.

3. Add ginger beer and arrack, which will reduce the temperature; continue simmering until it returns to soft ball stage / 240 degrees. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from heat; if it continues, it will swiftly turn into hard candy.

4. Turn mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. (Be very careful with the sugar syrup, as it is scaldingly hot and will burn you badly if it gets on your skin.) Once you’ve added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high.

5. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, during this stage.

6. While it’s whipping, butter a large 9 x 12 pan and dust with powdered sugar. Prepare an oiled spatula.

7. Turn mixer to low and add culinary crystals, stirring for a few moments to blend. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly (and swiftly) with an oiled spatula.

8. Top with crystallized ginger and lime if desired, pressing in slightly. Dust the top with enough of the remaining powdered sugar to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

9. Turn onto a board, cut into squares and dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining powdered sugar, using additional if necessary. May be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks, or frozen.

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Ginger-Lime Marshmallows

(45 minutes + cooling time, serves dozens)

You can freeze ginger, grate it with a microplane grater, and then squeeze juice out of the grated ginger, but that’s pretty labor intensive for this much juice. I used Ginger People’s ginger juice, available online.

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1/4 c. ginger juice
1/4 c. lime juice
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
butter (for greasing the pan)
green food coloring (optional)
crystallized ginger, chopped fine (optional)

1. Empty gelatin packets into bowl of stand mixer (whisk attachment), with ginger juice and lime juice. Stir briefly to combine.

2. In a small saucepan (a bigger one will be heavy and hard to hold steadily at a later stage) combine water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Cover and cook over medium high heat for 4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the mixture reaches soft ball stage (240 degrees if you have a candy thermometer), approximately 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from heat; if it continues, it will swiftly turn into hard candy.

3. Turn mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. (Be very careful with the sugar syrup, as it is scaldingly hot and will burn you badly if it gets on your skin.) Once you’ve added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high.

4. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, during this stage.

5. While it’s whipping, butter a large 9 x 12 pan and dust with powdered sugar. Prepare an oiled spatula.

6. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly (and swiftly) with an oiled spatula.

7. Sprinkle chopped crystallized ginger on top, pressing in slightly. Dust the top with enough of the remaining powdered sugar to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

8. Turn onto a board, cut into squares, and dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining powdered sugar, using additional if necessary. May be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks, or frozen.