I have been MIA from blogging lately. I think I found something more important to do during the day.
What! More Important!? How could this be?
Well, it is the new job at UT. It has become apparent to me that I will be required to work (pfffft!) during the day and accomplishing things regularly.
I know. I know. It pains me too.
But I have not left you all high and dry! I just have to get my blogging gears back in motion!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
after all, they are America's Favorite
I speak to you of none other than....marshmallows! They are a baffling food in every way. But there is no arguing the delicious taste of a marshmallow.
They are exquisite over a campfire when eaten off of a stick you found in the woods (and you pray that you found a stick long enough so you don't singe your eyebrows off and that you found one that a nearby woodland creature didn't recently use to relieve himself upon) and also equally exquisite when placed on chocolate and a graham cracker to create s'mores. They are tasty in the microwave when making a microwave s'more...no it doesn't provide you with a blackened marshmallow the way the campfire does but it is delicious in the middle of winter when all you want to do is go outside without 4 layers of clothing on. There are a number of delicious recipes using marshmallows (a few will even appear at the end of this rave) try a few, you'll be surprised at what a marshmallow can do for your spirits! There are also alternate uses for marshmallows. Besides being an acceptable food group while camping, hiking, and snacking you can also have no fear while throwing them at your friend or even family member.
There is one disclaimer that the Jet Puffed company (a Kraft family member) wants you to know: Only eat one at a time, there is a choking hazard! This means that some foolio tried to jam numerous marshmallows in their mouth and (surprise!) had trouble breathing. So don't be a fucking moron, eat them on at a time. Hell, even cut them in half so that the kind Jet Puffed people can feel safe about you enjoying their product.
I will say that a marshmallow is divine. But stopping at the average marshmallow is not enough (they get all the glory anyways), there are flavor, size and consistency differences that need to be in the lime-light!
We have a popular hot cocoa and rocky road ice cream partner, the mini marshmallow. While there is no difference between the mini marshmallow and the average marshmallow besides their size, there is something delightfully child-like about eating a mini! Even if they are floating in your warmed winter cocoa or if you eat them by the handful as a snack they make you giddy while popping a few in your mouth. I did mention ice cream as a dandy of a partner for the mini's...this is a combination that should go down in the record books. My favorite? Cotton Candy ice cream with mini marshmallows mixed in (thank you cold stone). But marshmallows are great and incredibly easy as an ice cream topping, remember this next time you want a topping change! And contrary to what my good friend M thinks, adults can order cotton candy ice cream with mini marshmallows in it and still be proud of her order! hehe...
The elusive flavored marshmallow. The flavors are hit or miss at most grocery stores. The flavors are as follows: toasted coconut, chocoMallow, strawberryMallow and funMallow. I understand the coconut, chocolate and strawberry but what is a funMallow? And what does it taste like? What do you do with it? Until I can find a grocer that carries a funMallow I am left to amusing myself by thinking of a flavor. Perhaps orange? Or maybe Lemon-Lime. Who knows. But I will be losing sleep over this until I find the answer.
I have just recently found out that the Jet-Puffed brand has put out seasonal marshmallows. Did you know that? I live under a rock I suppose. They tag them as 'holiday shaped marshmallows, perfect for snacking and decorating'. Holiday Mallows (holiday season of course) and Bunny Mallows (spring/Easter). I have never seen them (once again it is apparent that this grocer doesn't care about our needs. Yes I said needs. Marshmallows are a need in my house.) They are actually quite delightful looking and I would not hesitate to pick up a bag or 3 to mindlessly eat in front of the tv.
Speaking of eating in front of the tv....my favorite variety of marshmallow is not in the shape of a marshmallow at all. It is marshmallow creme. It comes in a jar and normal people use it for baking I guess. I never have. For over 10 years I have eaten the marshmallow creme out of the jar by the spoonful. It is the best snack ever. Whatever. Don't judge me. Have you tried it? No? Well, it rocks. But a jar for only $1.99 and discover how fantastic a shapeless blob of marshmallow is to snack on. Certain people (you know who you are) have been sworn to secrecy about how many jars of marshmallow creme I actually eat in a month, week or even a day.
Onto homemade marshmallows. And by this I do not mean 'what you can make with marshmallows'. I mean making marshmallows from scratch. Hey, if Ina Garten can do it you can, right? RIGHT! It is easy! And they taste better than anything you can buy at the store.
Here is my favorite Ina recipe for Marshmallows:
Toasted Coconut Marshmallows (thank you Ina Garten and food network)
7 ounces sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1 recipe Homemade Marshmallow batter, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar
Sprinkle half the toasted coconut in an 8 by 12-inch nonmetal pan. Pour in the marshmallow batter and smooth the top of the mixture with damp hands. Sprinkle on the remaining toasted coconut. 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.
Homemade Marshmallows:
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
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 degrees 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.
And how great would strawberry or chocolate rice krispies treats be? Fantastic in my world! I also think that marshmallows are a staple in the dessert and fondue world. I cannot imagine a chocolate fountain or fondue pot that is complete without the addition of a funMallow. Unless they actually taste like spaghetti, earthworms or ear wax. But I guess those wouldn't be very fun would they?
They are exquisite over a campfire when eaten off of a stick you found in the woods (and you pray that you found a stick long enough so you don't singe your eyebrows off and that you found one that a nearby woodland creature didn't recently use to relieve himself upon) and also equally exquisite when placed on chocolate and a graham cracker to create s'mores. They are tasty in the microwave when making a microwave s'more...no it doesn't provide you with a blackened marshmallow the way the campfire does but it is delicious in the middle of winter when all you want to do is go outside without 4 layers of clothing on. There are a number of delicious recipes using marshmallows (a few will even appear at the end of this rave) try a few, you'll be surprised at what a marshmallow can do for your spirits! There are also alternate uses for marshmallows. Besides being an acceptable food group while camping, hiking, and snacking you can also have no fear while throwing them at your friend or even family member.
There is one disclaimer that the Jet Puffed company (a Kraft family member) wants you to know: Only eat one at a time, there is a choking hazard! This means that some foolio tried to jam numerous marshmallows in their mouth and (surprise!) had trouble breathing. So don't be a fucking moron, eat them on at a time. Hell, even cut them in half so that the kind Jet Puffed people can feel safe about you enjoying their product.
I will say that a marshmallow is divine. But stopping at the average marshmallow is not enough (they get all the glory anyways), there are flavor, size and consistency differences that need to be in the lime-light!
We have a popular hot cocoa and rocky road ice cream partner, the mini marshmallow. While there is no difference between the mini marshmallow and the average marshmallow besides their size, there is something delightfully child-like about eating a mini! Even if they are floating in your warmed winter cocoa or if you eat them by the handful as a snack they make you giddy while popping a few in your mouth. I did mention ice cream as a dandy of a partner for the mini's...this is a combination that should go down in the record books. My favorite? Cotton Candy ice cream with mini marshmallows mixed in (thank you cold stone). But marshmallows are great and incredibly easy as an ice cream topping, remember this next time you want a topping change! And contrary to what my good friend M thinks, adults can order cotton candy ice cream with mini marshmallows in it and still be proud of her order! hehe...
The elusive flavored marshmallow. The flavors are hit or miss at most grocery stores. The flavors are as follows: toasted coconut, chocoMallow, strawberryMallow and funMallow. I understand the coconut, chocolate and strawberry but what is a funMallow? And what does it taste like? What do you do with it? Until I can find a grocer that carries a funMallow I am left to amusing myself by thinking of a flavor. Perhaps orange? Or maybe Lemon-Lime. Who knows. But I will be losing sleep over this until I find the answer.
I have just recently found out that the Jet-Puffed brand has put out seasonal marshmallows. Did you know that? I live under a rock I suppose. They tag them as 'holiday shaped marshmallows, perfect for snacking and decorating'. Holiday Mallows (holiday season of course) and Bunny Mallows (spring/Easter). I have never seen them (once again it is apparent that this grocer doesn't care about our needs. Yes I said needs. Marshmallows are a need in my house.) They are actually quite delightful looking and I would not hesitate to pick up a bag or 3 to mindlessly eat in front of the tv.
Speaking of eating in front of the tv....my favorite variety of marshmallow is not in the shape of a marshmallow at all. It is marshmallow creme. It comes in a jar and normal people use it for baking I guess. I never have. For over 10 years I have eaten the marshmallow creme out of the jar by the spoonful. It is the best snack ever. Whatever. Don't judge me. Have you tried it? No? Well, it rocks. But a jar for only $1.99 and discover how fantastic a shapeless blob of marshmallow is to snack on. Certain people (you know who you are) have been sworn to secrecy about how many jars of marshmallow creme I actually eat in a month, week or even a day.
Onto homemade marshmallows. And by this I do not mean 'what you can make with marshmallows'. I mean making marshmallows from scratch. Hey, if Ina Garten can do it you can, right? RIGHT! It is easy! And they taste better than anything you can buy at the store.
Here is my favorite Ina recipe for Marshmallows:
Toasted Coconut Marshmallows (thank you Ina Garten and food network)
7 ounces sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1 recipe Homemade Marshmallow batter, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar
Sprinkle half the toasted coconut in an 8 by 12-inch nonmetal pan. Pour in the marshmallow batter and smooth the top of the mixture with damp hands. Sprinkle on the remaining toasted coconut. 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.
Homemade Marshmallows:
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
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 degrees 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.
And how great would strawberry or chocolate rice krispies treats be? Fantastic in my world! I also think that marshmallows are a staple in the dessert and fondue world. I cannot imagine a chocolate fountain or fondue pot that is complete without the addition of a funMallow. Unless they actually taste like spaghetti, earthworms or ear wax. But I guess those wouldn't be very fun would they?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
they don't count as real fruit
It is a hard fact to face but fruit roll ups do not count as a serving of fruit. It fucking sucks because I can eat an entire box in a day. If they were actually fruit then I would be the healthiest person ever.
Fruit roll ups (fru) are absolutly delicious and come in a multitude of flavors...Berry, Blue Raspberry, Sunberry (what the fuck is a sunberry?) and my favorite, Strawberry.
I enjoy a fruit roll up each night after dinner. These are really the perfect snack...even for dieters! They are only 50 calories and 1 gram of fat. But there is so much (haha) real...okay maybe artificial, fruit flavor packed into this flat plastic looking sheet of yum. I have a method for eating my after dinner treat as well. Tear the fru in half along the perferated crease. Then commense to fold the fru in half until it is flat and compact. The only other acceptable method to eat a fru is by jamming the entire thing in your mouth. Simply delish.
OH! And I will admit that I was incorrect, if you note the first ingredient...it is pears from concentrate. Maybe I am the healthiest person around. Thank you fru.
Fruit roll ups (fru) are absolutly delicious and come in a multitude of flavors...Berry, Blue Raspberry, Sunberry (what the fuck is a sunberry?) and my favorite, Strawberry.
I enjoy a fruit roll up each night after dinner. These are really the perfect snack...even for dieters! They are only 50 calories and 1 gram of fat. But there is so much (haha) real...okay maybe artificial, fruit flavor packed into this flat plastic looking sheet of yum. I have a method for eating my after dinner treat as well. Tear the fru in half along the perferated crease. Then commense to fold the fru in half until it is flat and compact. The only other acceptable method to eat a fru is by jamming the entire thing in your mouth. Simply delish.
OH! And I will admit that I was incorrect, if you note the first ingredient...it is pears from concentrate. Maybe I am the healthiest person around. Thank you fru.
Here is the best webpage ever for fru lovers. http://www.myfruitrollups.com/ I am in love with this website. You can have your own images and words put right onto a fruit roll up. I can just see it now...I reach for my nightly fru fix a few years into the future...I open it and tear it from its plastic backing...then I notice the following phrase: amanda, will you marry me? Then I cry and say yes, yes I will! But soon after the sobbing commenses I will fold my fru into a perfectly flat and compact vessel and proceed to eat.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
food marathon: blog-style
I have decided to do a marathon of my favorite foods. Blog-style. I will be touching on my favorite foods, healthy or the alternative. I will be adding a new one each day...I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
quite possibly, the worlds most perfect food
No, not bananas. CEREAL! It could be the worlds most perfect food.
For 3 very solid reasons:
1. There are a million different varaties of cereal. You could have a different kind of cereal everyday for at least 2 months with no repeats. I love every kind of cereal that is out there. I love raisin bran, cinnamon toast crunch, trix (poor rabbit), kix, chex (especially the chocolate chex), frosted flakes, corn flakes, cheerios, lucky charms, total, special k, smart start, apple jacks, fruit loops, crispix, cracklin oat bran (which was much better with the old recipe), and the numerous granola type cereals.
2. You can add all sorts of things to cereal and even add cereal to other things. Adding bananas (which was previously the worlds most perfect food before I bumped it) or any other kind of fruit is a small joy of mine. Certain cereals such as rice krispies and special k share my joy as they have added strawberries to their cereals, heavenly. Whenever I indulge in some yogurt I always like to top it off with a scrumptious cereal. I have been known to run the gammot on this one and use fruit loops or cracklin oat bran, of course I love granola, a staple to many.
3. Mini cereal marshmallows. Does life get any better than this? No. No, it doesnt.
There are a few cereals that I am particularly fond of...and in no particular order here they are:
Post Grape Nuts. This cereal baffles me. The name itself reminds me of an episode of SNL's Coffee Talk with Linda Richman (Mike Myers)...I'm a little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: Grape Nuts, neither a grape nor a nut. Discuss. But their flavor and crunch...like buttah. Like a big bowl of buttah.
I like to top my Grape Nuts with an adequate amount of sugar. I tend to be one spoonful away from my body entering a state of sugar shock and having to press my panic alert button so that the appropriate authories can be contacted to resusitate me. My only problem with Grape Nuts is that I always get them stuck between my teeth. It is obvious that they have been mixed with some sort of cement-like substance that makes them one of the hardest materials known to mankind. Chew with caution.
Frosted Mini Wheats. These are deceptively good. Something about the 8 layers of stringy wheat that makes me giddy. I like to eat them straight from the box. They MUST be frosted or else I would be eating something healthy and that alone could kill me.
Rice Krispies. Of course these top the list! Who can resist that SNAP! CRACKLE! POP!?? They are best enjoyed in a fashion that we all know as Rice Krispies Treats. These combine two of my favorite things: cereal and marshmallows. My ultra glamorous friends know of my love for marshmallows. Ah, but that will have to be tackled another time.
This concept of cereal as any 'any meal' food has really taken off. Please check out the following website as it will delight and thrill so many of you: http://www.cereality.com/. In the words of my fallen friend...cereal is so wonderful, so marvelous. (you will be missed)
For 3 very solid reasons:
1. There are a million different varaties of cereal. You could have a different kind of cereal everyday for at least 2 months with no repeats. I love every kind of cereal that is out there. I love raisin bran, cinnamon toast crunch, trix (poor rabbit), kix, chex (especially the chocolate chex), frosted flakes, corn flakes, cheerios, lucky charms, total, special k, smart start, apple jacks, fruit loops, crispix, cracklin oat bran (which was much better with the old recipe), and the numerous granola type cereals.
2. You can add all sorts of things to cereal and even add cereal to other things. Adding bananas (which was previously the worlds most perfect food before I bumped it) or any other kind of fruit is a small joy of mine. Certain cereals such as rice krispies and special k share my joy as they have added strawberries to their cereals, heavenly. Whenever I indulge in some yogurt I always like to top it off with a scrumptious cereal. I have been known to run the gammot on this one and use fruit loops or cracklin oat bran, of course I love granola, a staple to many.
3. Mini cereal marshmallows. Does life get any better than this? No. No, it doesnt.
There are a few cereals that I am particularly fond of...and in no particular order here they are:
Post Grape Nuts. This cereal baffles me. The name itself reminds me of an episode of SNL's Coffee Talk with Linda Richman (Mike Myers)...I'm a little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: Grape Nuts, neither a grape nor a nut. Discuss. But their flavor and crunch...like buttah. Like a big bowl of buttah.
I like to top my Grape Nuts with an adequate amount of sugar. I tend to be one spoonful away from my body entering a state of sugar shock and having to press my panic alert button so that the appropriate authories can be contacted to resusitate me. My only problem with Grape Nuts is that I always get them stuck between my teeth. It is obvious that they have been mixed with some sort of cement-like substance that makes them one of the hardest materials known to mankind. Chew with caution.
Frosted Mini Wheats. These are deceptively good. Something about the 8 layers of stringy wheat that makes me giddy. I like to eat them straight from the box. They MUST be frosted or else I would be eating something healthy and that alone could kill me.
Rice Krispies. Of course these top the list! Who can resist that SNAP! CRACKLE! POP!?? They are best enjoyed in a fashion that we all know as Rice Krispies Treats. These combine two of my favorite things: cereal and marshmallows. My ultra glamorous friends know of my love for marshmallows. Ah, but that will have to be tackled another time.
This concept of cereal as any 'any meal' food has really taken off. Please check out the following website as it will delight and thrill so many of you: http://www.cereality.com/. In the words of my fallen friend...cereal is so wonderful, so marvelous. (you will be missed)
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