When you write a blog for over 6 years you start to run out of ideas. Especially when you have the added pressure of people telling you not only do they come for the recipes but also to see what I wrote. It’s very hard when one leads such an exciting life as mine how to cram all those stories in. I could do a picture tutorial of how I put the laundry in, and then take it out. Then run it through the dryer, not once, not twice, but usually three times because we have the worst apartment dryer ever. This is all riveting stuff I tell you. 😛
Most often the stories come from my childhood and I embarrass my parents. 😛 Or they come from what happens in my every day. And believe it or not there is a lot going on that I don’t talk about. As far as people’s concern about my writing things that involve my friends…as I have said before, I ask them if I can put it up if I think in any way it will embarrass them. Then as usual I have friends who forget this and email and ask, was that me. I got two emails asking me if I was talking about them since they were SAHM’s and had personal trainers. I said, “did we go to the Portage Bay Café together two weeks ago? And did you ask me remember when I was in shape?” If you answered no to these questions I wasn’t writing about you.
Writing is often like a horoscope, if you try hard enough you can make it be about you. Your horoscope reads “you will find a buried treasure” and you find lint in your belly button that same day…it was right your horoscope came true! I write about my friend who is a SAHM and suddenly I am attacking the world of SAHM’s. I tell people don’t spend money they don’t have and every friend I have that feels guilty about a recent purchase rushes to ask if I was writing about them. Point is, you can always find lint in your belly button. 😛 And you can always make a blog post about you.
Because it’s cooler now and I still have Funfetti cake mix left over I thought it would be fun to make Funfetti marshmallows. I was right, it was fun. They are super yummy. My bff thinks they are dessert unto themselves but I really wanted them for cocoa. I found some white cocoa mix and used it for the photos, though I think I like plain ol’ hot chocolate better and will use that from now on instead. By the way, if you drink hot chocolate, this blog post was about you. 😀
Funfetti Marshmallows
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
¾ cup Funfetti cake mix
Sprinkles
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
Nonstick spray
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 and cake mix during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.
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. Sprinkle with sprinkles, yes I just wrote that, and press down to help them stick into marshmallow. 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.
Adapted from Alton Brown FoodNetwork.com
Gabriela says
OMG, I do, i really DO drink hot chocolate! OMG, you WERE talking about me, weren’t you? Oh and I just checked, and why yes, I DO have lint in my navel. OMG!!!
Kathy says
I DO drink hot chocolate! But…. I don’t have lint in my navel. (at the moment) Hmmmm…… were you, or were you not, talking about me??? As I lay awake tonight pondering this I think I will eat some non-funfetti marshmallows. (because I don’t have any funfetti cake mix and am too lazy to go to the store or to make them even if I did.) But marshmallows are good no matter what. Maybe I’ll just take some and blow them up in the microwave. That’s always fun 🙂
VeggieGirl says
Regardless of what you post, I always enjoy each and every single one. No lie.
Nutmeg Nanny says
I would like some of these marshmallows…please 🙂
Jill says
i know you’re talking about me. I do like marshmallows.
Becca says
I can’t wait for the weather to get just right for hot cocoa, yummy, delicious, thick and creamy hot cocoa. I’ve never had homemade marshmallows before, but the thought of eating birthday marthmallows sounds intriguing.
m @ random musings says
Just curious: how much funfetti have you been using over these “fun” recipes in total?
I really enjoy your stories – even if it’s just laundry. Mostly it’s just your fun writing style. Or maybe any story is better with a recipe?
cheers!
Peabody says
@M- it’s just been one box for all the recipes I have been using and what you don’t see are some funfetti blondies I made and didn’t get to photograph. One box goes a long way. 🙂
delia says
Pretty! Funfetti makes everything better.
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat says
Best. Recipe. Ever. Yum!
Erin says
I know I moved to Portland to ensure you never write about me! I am kidding, but you probably knew that already. I love that people have to wonder if a blog is about them. Keep up the good work!
Peabody says
@Erin- you moving away just makes it easier for me to write about you friend. 😛
Rosa says
Hehehe, I know what you are talking about… I have also been blogging for more than 6 years and it is difficult to find what to talk about, since my life is as exciting as yours. ;-P
Anyway, those marshmallows look amazing!
Cheers,
Rosa
karen d says
Hey P, those marshmallows look great. I own a “gourmet” marshmallow company (check out my website) but I never thought about Funfetti marshmallows. May have to steal..er borrow, your recipe. Love your blog, love your recipes, love you..even if you are talking about me.
Lora says
The marshamllows are brilliant. They just scream “fun”.
Tracy says
You’re totally talking about me. I love hot cocoa and marshmallows. 😉
Rodzilla says
Haha, at least your friends hold your opinion about them so dearly – even if they skimmed to miss out on the details of your post.
Jessica @ How Sweet says
omg… i need to make these. like today!
Erika says
Such adorable little marshmallows!
Erin says
Yess this is totally about me then 😉
bill says
Oooh, laundry? Really???
Brett says
We have left-over funfetti cake mix in our pantry. I didn’t even know that you knew where our pantry was. This is creepy.
Actually, it’s left-over from when we tried making the funfetti cake rice krispies.
I guess I should try making marshmallows sometime, are they really that much better than store bought?
Peabody says
@Brett- yes, they are better…and they melt better in cocoa too!
Jennifer says
Do the marshmallows have a cake batter flavor? Mmmm… cake batter marshmallows…
And I always assume you’re not talking about me, but only because I’ve never found lint in my belly button.
You must have been talking about my husband, though. There’s always lint in his, lol.
Peabody says
@Jennifer- they do taste like cake batter
Carrie @ poet in the pantry says
You could always look at it this way–at least your friends are reading your blog, right? No worries, there’s always something to write about that someone else will find interesting. And those marshmallows are adorable!
Jo and Sue says
I always have trouble with anything involving candy thermometers. They hate me. I found this recipe for marshmallows you might like to try – no thermometer involved!
Yours look so cute with the sprinkles 🙂
Jo and Sue says
I guess it would help if I attached the link :/
http://joandsue.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-marshmallow-debate.html