I made marshmallows this week and I just felt moved to write about them. Have you ever had a homemade marshmallow? No? They are magic. Light and chewy and sweet. And like most magic, they are also pretty simple. It’s basically a combination of gelatin and water to which you add some hot liquid sugar (corn syrup, honey, sugar….) and then whip, whip, whip. Add flavor (vanilla, spices, lemon….) and whip some more. Pour into a tray and let it sit. Cut and toss in confectioners sugar and starch. Yup, that easy.

They have very little in common with a store bought marshmallow. You’ll have to believe me, or come in a try one this weekend. I understand if you are skeptical, I probably would be too if it weren’t for my grandmother. My grandmother used to make marshmallows, and while I don’t know exactly what recipe she used, (like so many things, I didn’t realize how important that might be until it was too late) I was converted the moment she first opened a tupperware container of them and said, ‘would you like a marshmallow?’ I said yes to be polite, this was my grandmother after all. But, marshmallows? Not really my thing. Oh how wrong I was. And so I continue on my quest to waken the world to the ease and loveliness of a homemade marshmallow.

Next I need to figure out how she made candied grapefruit rind.