Episode: Scared Silly

Marshmallows

 Can you believe it’s actually October? Now every TV channel is going to have nothing but movies with vampires, and monsters, and baby ducks! I’m kicking off my very own 31 Nights of Halloween with none other than Scared Silly. I’m a fraidy cat like Grimace and Sundae, so this is a good way to ease into the month of horror. This is also my top video in the Wacky Adventures series and I watch it every chance I get. My sister and I wait for weather that’s perfect for a campout (dark and stormy in our case), so we can “set, set, set, set, set, set, set up camp” in the living room, tent and fake fire included.

Usually we just eat McDonald’s when we watch it, but it gets kind of awkward when you realize you’re eating part of the cast. A safe bet and something no camping trip is complete without are marshmallows. Nothing beats a campfire roasted marshmallow and fresh ones are so good, I stopped buying packaged ones months ago.

Recipe makes 25 marshmallows or more, depending on how you cut them.

 Ingredients

 3 packets of unflavored gelatin

1 cup cold water, divided

1 cup light corn syrup

1 ½ cups sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

½ cup powdered sugar, sifted, plus more if needed

 

Directions

Lightly grease an 8 X 8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Dump powdered sugar into the dish and swirl it around until the bottom and sides are completely coated. Shake excess powdered sugar into a bowl for later use.

Pour gelatin and ½ cup of cold water in the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with the whisk attachment. While the gelatin is blooming, combine the remaining half cup of water, corn syrup, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium high heat and cook until the sugar has dissolved. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan and continue to cook, without stirring, until it reads 240 degrees F. Immediately take the syrup off the heat. With the mixer on low, pour the syrup into the gelatin. When all of the syrup is in the bowl, increase the mixer’s speed to high. Whip the mixture until it’s thick, about 12 minutes. Add the vanilla extract during the last minute of whipping.

Pour the marshmallow into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a lightly greased spatula. Things may get messy! Sprinkle some of the remaining powdered sugar over the marshmallow to completely cover the top. Let the marshmallow completely rest until firm, about 4 hours.

Turn out marshmallow onto a cutting board. With a lightly greased knife or pizza cutter, cut into marshmallows. I usually aim for 2-inch squares. Roll the marshmallows into the rest of the powdered sugar to coat all sides. Store in an airtight container or get your bonfire on!

Variations: Instead of making squares, you can pour or pipe out the unset marshmallow into prepared silicone molds. You can also cut out shapes from the finished marshmallow with cookie cutters. If you don’t want to use as much powdered sugar, you can substitute any amount of it with cornstarch.

As nutty as it may sound, McDonald’s holds a very special place in my heart. Growing up, my grandparents would take all five of us grandkids to the same McDonald’s almost every single day. Ronald is practically a member of my family. I’m not as much of a go-getter as he is, but I think I can hold my own against Franklin and his little game. I’ve got my marshmallows, my “tent in a flashlight,” and my dog who’s seriously nicknamed Sundae. If anyone needs me, I’ll be out in the Farflung Forest.

 

Tune in next week for more Cartoon Cravings!