The Conversation
Happiness is a homemade marshmallow nestled in a cup of steaming hot cocoa. Or actually, happiness is about one minute later when the marshmallow starts to melt, slowly enveloping the chocolate in a blanket of sweetness. Making marshmallows from scratch really makes a difference — the texture is so much more tender and yielding than anything out of the bag, and you can add any flavor you please. So do yourself a favor and make a batch of fresh, gooey, delicious marshmallows. They last for a week in a container and are the perfect wintertime garnish for a cup of hot cocoa, so you’ll have one the next time you’re craving one ;)
Ingredients:
— 1/2 cup powdered sugar
— 1 cup hot water, divided
— 3 1/2 envelopes (2 Tablespoons plus 2 1/2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
— 2 cups white sugar
— 1/2 cup light corn syrup
— 1/4 teaspoon salt
— 2 large egg whites
— 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
— 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
— 1 teaspoon red food coloring
Tools:
— paint brush
— toothpick
— parchment paper
— candy thermometer
Instructions:
1. Grease the bottom and sides of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper, and coat the bottom and sides with powdered sugar.
2. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, pour in a half cup of hot water and sprinkle with the gelatin and vanilla. Let it set for about 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine the white sugar, corn syrup and remaining hot water in a pot over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook without stirring until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat and pour the sugar mixture over the gelatin, stirring until combined.
4. With the whisk attachment, beat the mixture on high speed until pale white and nearly tripled in volume, about six minutes.
5. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they just hold stiff peaks.
6. Add the egg whites, peppermint extract and vanilla extract to the mixture.
7. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and paint with red food coloring. Swirl the food coloring with a toothpick (this needs to be done while the marshmallow is still a little warm and not set).
8. Once the marshmallow is set, use a knife dusted in powdered sugar to cut it into squares. Dust the sticky edges in powdered sugar. Pop into some cocoa and enjoy!
Grease the bottom and sides of a baking pan lined with parchment paper, and coat the bottom and sides with powdered sugar.
In a standing electric mixer, pour in half a cup of hot water, gelatin and vanilla. Let it set for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the white sugar, corn syrup and remaining hot water in a pot over medium heat, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat and pour the sugar mixture over the gelatin. With the whisk attachment, beat the mixture on high speed until pale white and nearly tripled in volume.
In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they just hold stiff peaks.
Add the egg whites, peppermint extract and vanilla extract to the mixture.
Pour the batter into the baking pan and paint with red food coloring. Swirl the food coloring with a toothpick into a marble design.
Once the marshmallow is set, use a knife dusted in powdered sugar to cut it into squares. Dust the sticky edges in powdered sugar (for your sanity). Pop into some cocoa and enjoy!
These marshmallows keep for about a week on the counter and they make a great stocking stuffer if you pair them with a jar of hot cocoa mix!
Make sure to share your photos with the tags #britstagram and #iamcreative so we can check out your version — and come back tomorrow at 8am PT/11am ET for another video + recipe in the Crave series!
More From Appetizers
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.
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