I tried making homemade marshmallows over the holidays but a combination of circumstances worked against me, resulting in a delicious, but less than successful batch of peppermint marshmallows. For one, I did not have a stand mixer (gasp!) and even if I had one, I did not have enough time for the marshmallows to set properly as they are best prepare one day in advance. Though I gave the marshmallow mixture a mighty good whipping for over 15 minutes, I could not get the volume to the level required. The marshmallows turned out to be just right for a nice mug of hot chocolate however, and we enjoyed the batch immensely.

A few days later, a knock at the door and Frugal Fritz delivers to me a beautiful red Kitchenaid Stand Mixer! Not only that, but he also picked up the Mixer Bible with over 300 recipes for the stand mixer! I am thrilled and immediately find a recipe for Marshmallows. Of course, I don't want to make plain marshmallows, but the great thing about them is that the actual flavoring of the marshmallows are the final touch. I have at least 12 minutes once the mixer is running to decide what flavors I want to use.

Once the stand mixer was magically doing what I sweated to do half as well last week, I searched the fridge for the fresh rosemary I bought a few days ago, with no luck. Then I saw the ginger and some oranges. I love these flavors together and went straight to zesting the orange and grating some ginger into a 1/4 tsp of pure vanilla extract. The results are more special than you can possibly imagine, as if it has nothing in common with the store bought versions, but yet, has everything in common with it. The texture, the flavor, the smoothness, the aroma... it is all so different yet so familiar!

<recipe adapted from The Mixer Bible>

1 packet unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
100 ml hot water
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp orange zest
1/4 tsp grated ginger

Pour the gelatin into a small bowl or measuring cup, then add the cold water, and set aside.

Pour the sugar, 1/4 cup of the corn syrup and the hot water into a saucepan over medium high heat. Gently stir until the granules of sugar have dissolved. Once dissolved, increase the heat and bring the mixture to a low boil. Use a candy thermometer and bring the liquid to 240˙F, remove from heat.

Add 1/4 cup of corn syrup to the mixer bowl, then carefully pour in the hot liquid while the mixer is on low speed. Turn the speed up to medium and add in the gelatin a little at a time. Beat for about 10-12 minutes. Next add in your flavorings and beat for an additional minute until fully incorporated.

Meanwhile, spray a tray with cooking spray (it is a good idea to spray your spatula as well) and add in the marshmallow mixture, spreading evenly as possible.

Let this stand, uncovered for about 24 hours. Cut up and toss with icing sugar to prevent then from sticking together.