Headaches and Marshmallows

Yesterday was a horrible day. I woke up with a migraine and it stayed with me until I finally fell asleep at 2 am. Unfortunately, Tylenol, the only headache medicine that is safe for me to take (according to my midwife and pharmacy-student-husband) doesn't come close to touching my headaches. It was a hard day.

Rewind to several days ago. We woke up to a dusting of snow- maybe half an inch. The grass was very visible sticking up through it. Even though it wasn't much, the kids were thrilled. So, right after breakfast, I bundled them up and sent them outside to play making them promise that they would stay within my view from the kitchen window. I do not have maternity snow pants (yes, I need 'special clothes' already) and wasn't feeling great anyway. About 40 minutes later, they came inside cold and begging for hot cocoa. Sam knows (and Sadie is learning) that the only time you get hot cocoa is after you've been outside playing in the cold. Sam asked if we had marshmallows and his face fell when I had to tell him, "no". He drank his cocoa plain, without complaint.

Fast forward to headache yesterday. In the late afternoon, in a migraine stupor, I was trying to distract myself from the pain. I visited one of my favorite blogs and came across a recipe for marshmallows. Since I've been not feeling well, one of the things I regret I have had to 'let go' is doing those special little fun things with the kids. The most special I get around here is curling up with them on the couch (under blankets) with snacks (usually apples) to watch PBS. Not something we normally do, nor am I proud of. But, at this stage of things, it is fine with me- and even more fine with the kids.

Anyway, I knew Sam would be thrilled at the idea of making our own marshmallows. Sadie was soon in bed and I asked him if he'd like to. Well, he thought this was a great idea. So, through pounding and blurry vision, I supervised Sam making The Small Scribbler's recipe. It was so fun and worth it. This afternoon after lunch, we all had hot cocoa and homemade marshmallows. And we didn't even play outside first:-).

Kate's Homemade Marshmallows 

1/2 cup cold water
3 envelopes knox gelatin
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. vanilla
confectioner's sugar 

In the bowl of your electric mixer, place the 1/2 cup of water.  Sprinkle the gelatin on top and let soak for 10 minutes.  In the meantime, in a saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water and bring it to a boil.  Pour the syrup over the gelatin and mix at high speed.  Add the salt.  Beat for 12 minutes.  Blend in vanilla.  Butter a 9 x 13 inch pan as well as a spatula and your hands.  Pour the marshmallows into the pan, spreading them out evenly.  Cover with saran wrap and let sit overnight.  Cut into squares.  Dredge in confectioner's sugar and store covered.

Oh, the marshmallows were delicious- way better than I thought marshmallows could ever be.

The morning after, once they have 'set'.

Sam dredging them (and his little hands) in powdered sugar.

The finished product.

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