Odd week.
Started off Monday with my husband coming home and telling me that they disbanded his group at work and starting Tuesday he would be in a new group. Good news, he still has a job. Bad new, whoa, out of left field.
Moving on, thanks to all of those who checked out my kitchen over at Use Real Butter. Yes, I know I am spoiled and have a big kitchen. Realize that I had small apartment kitchens all my life, so I earned it. 😉 Also, many people said they were bummed that the picture of me was not of me in my hockey gear. So here you go (see below). There is me at April Ice, a tournament held in Calgary, Alberta, back in 2004. I was still living in Phoenix at the time (notice the logo).
Starting tomorrow my parents arrive so I will be MIA some more. Sorry.
Spring tried to come around these parts. We had unseasonable warm weather and it made everyone happy but me. So to bring the cold weather back (there is even rumors of snow on Monday) I made some cocoa and marshmallows with a twist.
I love, loved these marshmallows. They had just enough hint of orange to make them extra special. I made the marshmallows first and knew that I didn’t want them to go with regular hot chocolate. So Out came the vanilla beans and white chocolate. This is a thick drinking chocolate again. The two of them made quite a combo!
Vanilla Bean White Chocolate Cocoa with Orange N’ Cream Marshmallows
1 batch Orange N’ Cream Marshmallows (recipe follows)
1 batch Vanilla Bean White Chocolate Cocoa (recipe follows)
Shaved white chocolate for garnish (optional)
Vanilla Bean White Chocolate Cocoa
8 ounces good white chocolate, finely chopped
2 ½ cups whole milk
1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
2 vanilla beans, split, seeds removed, pod discarded
¼ cup granulated sugar
Place chopped white chocolate in a large bowl. Set aside.
Heat the milk, cream and vanilla beans in a heavy medium sauce pan over medium low heat for about five minutes. Whisk to ensure that the vanilla beans disperse.
Turn up the heat and whisk in sugar. Bring just to a boil and quickly remove off of heat.
Pour milk mixture over white chocolate. Let stand for 2 minutes, then whisk vigorously until the chocolate has melted completely.
Divide among 4 of your favorite coffee mugs and garnish with Orange N’ Cream Marshmallows.
Orange N’ Cream Marshmallows
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 cup ice cold water, divided
12 ounces granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
¼ tsp kosher salt
1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped, pod discarded
¼ tsp orange extract
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
Nonstick spray
Directions
Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with ½ cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.
In a small saucepan combine the remaining ½ 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 beans and orange extract during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows. If you would like to add some orange food coloring (I like to use the gel kind for marshmallows), just fold some in gently so as not to make them all orange (you want some swirl)…of course you can make them all orange if you want.
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. 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
VeggieGirl says
Hang in there with everything!!
Love the photo of you in gear 🙂
Mmm, cocoa!!
Kara says
Holey moley, those have got to be the most gourmet marshmallows I have ever seen. They look yummy, and that’s saying something because I don’t even like marshmallows.
Eliana says
What a great combination. I really like thick and creamy hot chocolate, especially when it is made of hot chocolate. And the orange marshmallows are hmmm…the icing on the cake.
Monica H says
These marshmallows are so pretty. I bet they would be good in rice krispy treats!
Mary says
Well it all looks fabulous! I’m not usually a white chocolate fan, but even the hot chocolate sounds great!
And I love the photo of you in hockey gear!:)
erin says
Your kitchen awesome! Cool to see where you take your pics!
Elyse says
Wow! What a perfect way to combat the chilly weather that’s decided to return to your neck of the woods. Have fun with the rents!! And by the way, your kitchen and your hockey pic are awesome!
Felice says
Wow, the marshmallows look fantastic. I have always wanted to try making them. I am not a big fan of orange so I might try them with raspberry – I think that this would go very nicely with the decadent hot chocolate. Love your blog!
Rosa says
That’s good news!
These marshmallows look very pretty! What an awesome combo!
Cheers,
Rosa
nina says
I am always fascinated with people making their own marshmallows…too much effort for me, but you have made me want to make it now!!!
HeartofGlass says
Thanks for sharing a photo of you all suited up–you look awesome and always inspire me with your hockey tales (as well as your cooking)!
veron says
Oh, yum that must be the best looking marshmallows I have ever seen!
Melinda says
I love the orange twist in the marshmallows.
You’re looking tough in the hockey gear!
MyKitchenInHalfCups says
Really stunning marshmallows – gorgeous swirls!
Lynn says
Those marshmallows look amazing!
anna says
Awesome. There are few things yummier-looking than an orange-vanilla swirl in ANYTHING. But in homemade marshmallows? Alllll riiiight.
snooky doodle says
wow so interesting and must be delicious. Those marshmallows look awesome 🙂
ps. u look good in that gear
Steph says
Orange and white chocolate sound so good together. I’m not crazy about white chocolate, but for some reason I love white hot chocolate.
Foodess says
Whoa, bring on winter if it means drinking chocolate.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOT, Alberta!!!!
*Come back up here, and you’ll find some winter no problem!
pita says
cool pic of you in your gear. i used to play goalie in college (just a club team)and with hubby’s friends. i stopped when i had kids but the hubs is playing again.
marshmallows look very yummy!
Cathy says
This is one of the reasons this is my favorite blog. aYum!!! BTW, my husband loves the hockey look on you. I think he’s gonna buy me some gear just for “fun”. 🙂
Monique says
Oh my! I will be trying this. I hope I can make the mellows
Claire says
Gorgeous kitchen!!! I’m jealous! Those orange and cream marshmallows look dreamy. 🙂
Manggy says
Those marshmallows are beautiful!!! 🙂
Go Scorpions! 😉
Baking Soda says
o, wow, so elegant! Almost too pretty to dunk in choc milk. (No, not you, the marshmallows!) Fun pic!
Eileen @ Passions to Pastry says
Wow… what spectacular marshmallows! They’re beautiful. And I love the combination of chocolate (white) and orange! Thanks…
Deborah says
I’ve never made marshmallows before, but these are calling to me!
RecipeGirl says
Oh, you’re so cute in your hockey gear 🙂
I keep seeing marshmallows on the blogs. Guess I should jump on the marshmallow bandwagon and make some myself. I’d have to think up a good flavor. Yours are pretty cool looking with those orange swirlies!
food librarian says
Love the hockey photo! These marshmallows look fantastic. I hope you have a great time with the folks!
Elle says
You look awesome in gear. The hot cocoa just might bring back winter…and if not, is sure pretty. Hope you have a good time with the pair of rats (as my daughter calls us in jest…well, hope she is jesting).
CookiePie says
That looks fantastic! Who needs winter? It looks so good, I’d drink it year round 🙂
Ari (Baking and Books) says
I enjoyed seeing you kitchen and yes, you earned it! Still, as someone who’s still living in an apartment I was a wee bit jealous of that gorgeous space you have. Sorry, lol.
Love the photo of you in your gear!
Lisa says
Holy crap, Gracie.. that looks SO FARKING GOOD! Although I could probably just eat the pan of marshmallows myself. *slurp*
Lovin’ the photo in your gear.. you’re so damn cute. 🙂
Love you!
xoxoxoxo
Louise at Livin Local says
Oh, I’ve been wanting to make marshmallows, but was a bit frightened. These uber clear directions may give me a fighting chance!
grace says
pretty marshmallows, and undoubtedly tasty too! the cocoa sounds fabulous, the marshmallows sound fabulous, the combination sounds out-of-this-world.
Hannah says
Oh my does this sound heavenly… Sort of like a warm, rich creamsicle!
kellypea says
Sorry haven’t been by in a while. I’m a loser. Hahaha! Loving how those scrumptious marshmallows are matching your hockey suit. Nice touch. Of course, I wouldn’t turn down a cup of that cocoa. Got my fingers crossed re: your hubs. Glad you guys are hanging in there.
Patricia Scarpin says
Oh, I love seeing you with the uniform – so adorable, Pea!
I’m glad to hear the hubby is still employed.
Too bad I can’t find orange extract around here – these marshmallows look like heaven!
mess says
If your food wasn’t already beautiful enough, you play hockey too?
you’re just damn cool. =>
Jaime says
i am envious of your kitchen. those orange n cream ‘mallows look to die for!
Carol says
You were in the NHL or ??? Either way, hockey is my fave, followed by football! Go Penguins, go Steelers! Going to try this recipe this week…looks yummy! Thanks for sharing. …Love ur site !!!
Peabody says
I was not in the NHL I play recreational hockey.