Coffee Marshmallows

My mother's cousin is a good friend of mine. I truly love how my family members are more like friends than relatives.
She lives in state, but just far enough away that when she comes to visit, an overnight is in order.

She was down a couple of weekends ago, we had a fun "field trip" and then she spent the night.
The next morning, she was watching TV with hubby while I was puttering in the kitchen. She said "whatcha doing". When I said "making coffee marshmallows" she was in the kitchen in a flash!

Together we made these from A Cozy Kitchen.
Sadly, she had to go home before they were done chilling.

The next day, I cut them all up and packaged some for her.
I searched the house for a box to fit the container (no luck) so I brought it to work. Yeah, no luck there either!
The office manager and I managed to find a box that plastic silverware came in that was the right height. I spent some time being crafty, cutting it down to fit.
Whew!

Mailed them out (love me some click and ship!) and kept it a secret.
A couple days later I got a text message "OMG this is just sooooo good". Package had arrived safe and sound...and made cousin a very happy camper!

She now wants to play around with different flavors. I'm in!

Ingredients:

Prep:

½ Cup powdered sugar

½ Cup cornstarch

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

Vegetable oil

Marshmallows:

¾ Cup warm water

1 Tbsp instant espresso granules

3 Envelopes gelatin

1 ½ Cups sugar

1 Cup light corn syrup

½ Tsp salt

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

2 Tsp vanilla extract

Vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Prep ingredients: sift the dry ingredients together. Grease a 10 x 8 casserole dish with the vegetable oil. Add a tsp or two of the cocoa mixture, sprinkled over the prepared dish.

2. Combine ½ cup warm water and instant espresso granules

3. Whisk until granules are dissolved. Put in fridge to cool.

4. Pour cooled espresso into a large bowl (stand mixer preferred, but a hand mixer does work)

5. Sprinkle gelatin over the coffee mixture and let sit for 10 minutes

6. In medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, salt, and ¼ cup water.

7. Heat over medium heat until sugar has dissolved

8. Turn the heat up to medium high and bring mixture to a boil

9. Cook for one minute, until the candy thermometer reaches 240 degrees

10. Carefully add boiling liquid to the gelatin.

11. Turn mixer to high and beat for 8-10 minutes, until mixture has doubled in volume and holds stiff peaks

12. Sift in the cocoa powder and pour in vanilla

13. Beat until incorporated

14. Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish

15. Dust the top with a few tablespoons of cocoa powder/sugar mixture

16. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and allow to set until firm. Minimum 4 hours, preferably overnight

Print

Come party with me HERE!

International Delight: Iced Coffee

International Delight has come out with ready made ice coffee.
For those of us who, you know, are too lazy to pour coffee over ice!

In all seriousness, I do like these. I think to buy them every now and again.
I have had the mocha, and now the caramel.

I don't find them overly sweet, just quite tasty.

When I first tried it, I had this idea in my head that it would be thick like chocolate milk. (huh? why?)
Happy to report it is creamy like iced coffee with cream should be.

Salted Caramel Frappuccino

How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways...

I wait all summer long for fall to arrive and bring with it my salty sweet friend,
Once it is here, I cannot get enough...it is very much an excercise in self control to not buy myeslf one daily,

It's a frosty treat made with coffee, milk, and ice.They then add caramel and salt. What more could you want?

I fully recommend getting up RIGHT NOW and heading to your nearest Starbucks.

Click here for a drool inducing vision.


Alas, mine is almost depleted.