Peppermint Marshmallows

 If you haven't ever had a homemade marshmallow, you are missing out! I made them myself for the first time last Christmas, and discovered that they aren't that hard to do. They do take some time to make, but the process isn't too difficult, and you can flavor them in many different ways. I've made raspberry, orange, and coconut, but this time just did peppermint.
You can find many different recipes for marshmallows, but I've only ever tried this one because it works! :) This is from the Food Network magazine Dec 09 issue. The original recipe is for and 8x8 pan, but I doubled it and will put the doubled measurements here, because who wants such a small pan of marshmallows?!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cold water
4 packets powdered gelatin (1/2 ounce each)
1 c powdered suger
1 c cornstarch
1 c corn syrup
3 c suger
1 c water
1 tsp Pure vanilla extract (or whatever flavor you want to use)

Combine 1 1/2 cups cold water with the gelatin packets and stir. Set aside to let thicken.

 Cook corn syrup, sugar and 1 c water in a saucepan over med-high heat until its 235 degrees, or a soft ball stage. Ok, I just lost you...you don't have a candy thermometer and don't know what the heck soft ball stage means. Don't worry! Let me explain! :)
When you first put it on the stove it will look like this:

Then it will start to boil, keep an eye on it so it doesn't boil over.

 

Keep the boil going for a few minutes, and you are going to notice that it will start to thicken up.

See the difference in these two?

Orange Creamsicle Cake

Yep, its been awhile! But, I have lots to catch up on, so lets just get going with it! :)
I actually made this one mid-November, and just realized that I never posted it. It is simple, easy, fun, and yummy!
Here is what you need:
1 white or yellow cake mix (plus ingredients to make, minus the water)
Orange juice (to replace water in the cake mix)
1 pkg orange Jello (plus water to make)
1 pkg instant vanilla pudding
1 c milk (to make pudding)
1 small container of whip cream (or make your own whip cream)

Prepare cake mix according to directions, replacing orange juice for water. Bake according to directions.

 

Let cake cool. Once it has cooled, poke holes all over it. I used chopsticks, but anything about that size would work.

Mix jello with hot water until dissolved. Then add cold water.

Pour jello over the cake. Refrigerate to let jello set.

To make the topping, prepare pudding according to directions.Mix with whip cream

Pull the cake out of the fridge, and put the topping on! (It may look a bit like mashed potatoes, don't worry, its good!)