YumSugar

Give Me a S'more Popsicle

YumSugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:00:23 -0700

Summer is coming to an end! I don't want it to, but there's no way to fight it, so instead, I celebrated by creating a frozen treat inspired by the great camping tradition of s'mores. Only a few days ago, PartySugar made homemade smores, and I decided to try my hand at s'mores popsicles. These easy popsicles only require five ingredients: vanilla ice cream, marshmallows, chocolate chips, graham crackers, and vegetable oil.To mimic the shape of a marshmallow, I made the pops in small juice glasses, although any pop mold or dixie cup would work. While these popsicles are not gooey and warm like the original s'more, they have the same great flavor. The first bite of roasted marshmallow ice cream, crisp chocolate, and crunchy graham crackers will cool down anyone who is basking in the last fiery days of Summer. These popsicles are irresistible to kids and adults, so if you want chilly s'mores, keep reading.

Come Party With Me: End of Summer BBQ - Desserts

partysugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:30:18 -0700

I just realized that the entire Summer has almost passed and I have not enjoyed one s'more! Before the long warm nights are replaced with Fall's cool evenings, I must make s'mores. What better time to do it than at my end of Summer barbecue?! After all s'mores, the gooey, finger-licking good combination of graham crackers, melted chocolate, and toasted marshmallows, are a classic American dessert. While I could simply purchase the ingredients at the store, I'm taking the nostalgic campfire treat to a whole new level with homemade marshmallows and graham crackers. To look at the recipe I'll be using - thanks Martha! - read more.

S'mores
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

For graham crackers:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for working
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup untoasted wheat germ
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 tablespoons high-quality honey
For marshmallows:
Vegetable oil, for brushing
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons)
3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
For s'mores:
20 ounces bittersweet or milk chocolate bars, broken into 2-ounce pieces

Directions

Make graham crackers: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk flours, wheat germ, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.
Put butter, brown sugar, and honey into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add the flour mixture, and mix until combined.
Turn out dough onto a floured surface, and divide into quarters. Roll out each piece between 2 sheets of floured parchment paper into rectangles a bit larger than 9 by 6 inches, about 1/8 inch thick.
Using a fluted pastry wheel, trip the outermost edges or each rectangle, and divide into three 6 by 3-inch rectangles. Pressing lightly, so as not to cut all the way through, score each piece in half lengthwise and crosswise, to form four 3 by 1 1/2-inch crackers. Stack parchment and dough on a baking sheet and chill in freezer until firm, about 20 minutes.
Remove two sheets of dough from freezer. Pierce crackers using the tines of a fork. Transfer to large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake, rotating halfway through, until dark golden brown, 8 to 9 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough. Let cool on sheet 5 minutes; transfer crackers to wire racks to cool completely. Crackers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.
Make marshmallows: Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with oil. Line with parchment, allowing a 2-inch overhang on the long sides. Brush parchment with oil; set aside.
Put granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 3/4 cup water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook, without stirring, until mixture registers 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 9 minutes.
Meanwhile, put 3/4 cup cold water into the bowl of an electric mixer; sprinkle with gelatin. Let soften 5 minutes.
Attach bowl with gelatin to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With mixer on low speed, beat hot syrup into gelatin mixture. Gradually raise speed to high; beat until mixture is very stiff, about 12 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Pour into prepared dish, and smooth with an offset spatula. Set aside, uncovered, until firm, about 3 hours.
Sift 1 cup confectioners' sugar onto a work surface. Unmold marshmallow onto confectioners' sugar; remove parchment. Lightly brush a sharp knife with oil, then cut marshmallow into 2-inch squares. Sift remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar into a small bowl, and roll each marshmallow in the sugar to coat. Marshmallows can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.
For s'mores: Preheat a grill to medium (if you are using a charcoal grill, coals are ready when you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill for just 5 to 6 seconds).
Place a piece of chocolate on each of 10 graham crackers; set aside. Press each marshmallow onto the tip of a skewer. Cook marshmallows, turning occasionally, until toasted to desired doneness.
Using a fork, push each marshmallow onto a chocolate-covered graham cracker. Sandwich with remaining graham crackers. Serve immediately.

Makes 10.

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Hot Chocolate Topping: Whipped Cream or Marshmallows?

partysugar — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:30:07 -0800

Source

Yummy Links: From Crustaceans to Food Trends

partysugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:45:57 -0800

Find out why crustaceans turn pink when cooked. - The Kitchn
Take a virtual field trip to a tomato farm. - Chow
Would you eat crispy fried chicken skins? - Serious Eats
San Francisco says goodbye to the victory garden. - Eater SF
Chocolate covered marshmallows are a delightful edible gift. - Baking Bites
Love to entertain? Submit your holiday party ideas to win a $2,500 prize! - Hostess with the Mostess
Epicurious predicts the top 10 food trends for 2009. - The Epi-Log

Source

Come Party With Me: Black and White Luau - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:00:40 -0700

For our black and white luau, FabSugar has requested a special dessert. While marshmallows don't have anything to do with the luau part of the theme, they'll be black and white, and more importantly: bite sized and delicious! Homemade marshmallows are a marvelous treat that will impress guests. Once you make them, you'll never go back to purchasing their grocery-store counterpart. Instead of dipping the marshmallows in coconut, I plan to dip the squares in chocolate and roll them around in crushed oreos! Served plated with toothpicks they're the perfect party dessert. For the recipe, read more.

Homemade Marshmallows
From Ina Garten

Ingredients

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.
Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.
With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.
Spay a 8 by 12-inch nonmetal pan with cooking spray. Pour in the marshmallow batter and smooth the top of the mixture with damp hands.
Allow to dry uncovered at room temperature overnight.
Remove the marshmallows from the pan and cut into squares. Roll the sides of each piece carefully in confectioners' sugar. Store uncovered at room temperature.

Makes 20-40 marshmallows.

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Yummy Link: Rose and Chocolate Marshmallows

YumSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:29:31 -0800

It's been demanded that I make these Rose and Chocolate Marshmallows. And although I'm not the hugest marshmallow fan, I think these lovelies might just change my mind. - Chocolate and Zucchini

Now You Can Make Neapolitan S'mores

YumSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:03:31 -0800

This weekend I was perusing the Valentine's Day section of my local Target when I noticed a bag of ~~charcoal~~ chocolate marshmallows. At first I only noticed the NEW! banner across the top - I'm a marketer's dream - and then I noticed that it was sitting on top of a bag of strawberry-flavored marshmallows. Those were not marked new and it got me wondering what other flavors there were. According to the Kraft website, there is also a Toasted Coconut flavor. I'm slightly surprised that toasted coconut appeared before chocolate, but then again I'm not a marshmallow expert.

These festive snacks looked like a lot of fun; I'm not even a fan of marshmallows and had the urge to buy one. I bet they would be nice in hot cocoa, and could possibly add another element to s'mores. So what do you think? Has anyone out there tasted these? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

10 Ways to Make Marshmallows More Fun

YumSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:15:13 -0800

I'm not sure how it happened, but earlier this morning I ended up on a marshmallow gun hunt. They're sort of like a Nerf gun, but instead of soft, foamy Nerf balls, you get to shoot soft, fluffy - if not somewhat sticky - marshmallows. From marshmallow blower to marshmallow blaster, there's a marshmallow toy for everyone. To check them out, hit "start slideshow" below.

View Slideshow ›

Cute Food Alert! Homemade Marshmallows

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:12:48 -0800

Derek and Lauren - the uber-cute couple behind The Curiosity Shoppe - created an amazing DIY post for design*sponge. In it they ditch homemade candies and teach you how to make melt-in-your-mouth marshmallows. Be sure to watch their absolutely adorable, step-by-step video. Check it out just, read more.

Yummy Link: Pink Marshmallow Peppermint Cake

partysugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:01:31 -0800

I can't stop fantasizing about this pink marshmallow peppermint cake. The cake layers are a mixture of chocolate and vanilla cake batters, and the frosting is fluffy marshmallow cream topped with crushed candy canes. Doesn't it sound like heaven on a plate? - Culinary Concoctions By Peabody