With grocery shelfs exploding with marshmallows in all shapes, sizes and colors you might not have thought to make your own.  If the thought did cross your mind, the expectations of sticky and gooey may have crossed your mind too.  Then again why would anyone make marshmallows when they sale delicious bags and bags of them at the store.  It's all in the taste.  The homemade marshmallow is in a completely different league than their kin with the same name.  And as I always say...("they are easy to make!).  The only items you need, and may not have is a candy thermometer.  If you don't have one, go get a good one about $15.00.  It will open you up to all kinds of fun stuff the cook.  This recipe I've been making for a few years.  It's from "Ina Garten the Barefoot Contessa" It also turned out to be one of my families favorite goodies at Christmas.  I bet it would be a family favorite for Valentines too!

The toasted coconut is the barrier between you and a sticky mess.  If you happen to hate coconut.  Make sure you use a good amount of powder sugar instead.  I have to say the toasted coconut gives a nice crunchy texture to the marshmallows.   Bon Appetite, Peggy

7oz  sweetened coconut

How to toast coconut;

There are two ways to toast coconut.  In a pan on top of the stove, or in the oven.  I use the oven method.  So turn your oven to 350.  Sprinkle coconut on to a cookie sheet.  Bake in the oven, siring with a metal spatula so the coconut gets evenly browned.  Watch closely it doesn't take long.

 In a nonmetallic 9x13 pan ( i use a glass dish) sprinkle 1/2 of your toasted coconut. 

MARSHMALLOWS

3 packages unflavored gelatin

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup water, divided

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 tsp salt

1 TBS.  pure good vanilla

confectioners sugar for dusting

In a bowl of a stand mixer, and with the whisk attachment in place.  dissolve the gelatin and 1/2 cups cold water.  Let sit while you make the syrup.  In a heavy bottomed pan combine sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves and syrup reaches 240 on a candy thermometer.  Remove from heat.  With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the syrup into the gelatin until combined.  Scraping down the sides the best you can.  Turn the mixer to high and beat until the mixture is very thick and the bowl feels cool to the touch, about 10 minutes.  Add vanilla and mix well.  Now this part is sticky and fun... pour the marshmallows on the layer of coconut.  With wet hand scrape pan the best you can.  Now lick your hands, thats the fun part. With wet hands smooth the  marshmallow in to the pan.  I don't go all the way to the edges.  Sprinkle rest of coconut on top.  Let sit over night or for a few hrs uncovered.  The finishing touch is some good chocolate drizzled on top

The Marshmallows made a great BIrthday gift for my son Quentin's 29th birthday.  I can see the possibilities for Valentines, can't you.

"I survived Christmas"  don't they make tee-shirts that say that?  Well I did and had a rather great time doing it.  The whole family was here.  Good food, and good times flowed.  Not to mention the piles of dishes too.  I love cooking,  but even I got tired and closed the kitchen down.  This recipe for "Skiers Stew"is so easy and delicious it's like you have closed the kitchen, sort-of.  The whole premise of this stew is that it cooks all day.  So while your out skiing it slowly cooks in the oven.  And when you get home it READY!   Preferably you have stopped and bought a fresh baguette to complete the meal.  Thats exactly what Mike and I, Roz and thad did last Monday.  It was a beautiful sunny day with great snow.  You have to "SKI THE BEAV"  Ya'll have a Happy New Year!

                                                                                Bon Appetite , Peggy

"SKIER'S STEW'

2 1/2 lbs. beef cut into 1 inch cubes

8 medium potatoes, quartered

8 large carrots cut into chunks

2 bay leaves

1 package (1 1/2 oz) dried onion soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of celery soup

1 8oz can tomatoe sauce

Turn the oven to 275.  In a large dutch oven with a tight fitting lid.  Make a layer of half the beef, then half the vegetables; repeat.  Mix the soups and tomato sauce together.  Add bay leaves on top and finish  with soups.  Bake 6-8 hours.  Or if you'll be gone longer then lower the heat to 250

I like to add a couple of cups of peas at the end

Merry Christmas!  are you still looking for that perfect one of a kind gift?  I wish this blog would allow you to smell. feel and taste the quality of our products.  As you know they are all handmade with the highest quality and the freshest ingredients.   They are either organic or 100% natural.  All our products are " Naturally fresh from the farm" At the top of this blog  click on the red box that says "buy Lavender Products".  Need your gift by Christmas? December 16th is likely the last day to order for Christmas delivery (no guarantee)  For a guaranteed delivery date call  435-363-4676.  Or If you live near,  come by the farm.   Call first to make sure I'm home.   Merry Christmas,  joyous Noel   Peggy (The Lavender Apple)

Below are some new products 

  

Two family Favorites

Apple Butter:  made with our own apples which are "low Spray" apples.  Many of our 100 plus trees are  delicious vintage varieties  $6.00  (  plus shipping)

Apple Cranberry Relish:  This is a big must with the Nelson family at the holidays.  They are made with our apples and spiced just right.  Watch this blog for our "Turkey Panini" using this relish.  It's delicious all year round.  $6.00  (plus shipping)

Our mulling spices  are a must for those cold winter days.  They also make your home smell fantastic when added to a pot of water and warmed on the stove.  $5.00  (plus shipping)

Our dryer bag set has 3 sealed bags.  Each bag will add a clean scent of Lavender to each load.  One bag will last 6-8 loads each  $7.00  (plus shipping)

One more very popular item is our "Comfort Heart" (seen on great grandmas stove) They are handmade and filled with lavender, rice and flax.  They can be used to sooth a tender muscles, or warmed up and taken to bed.  The smell is very calming. $13.00

P.S.  send this post to a friend :)

Carmel apples are my very favorite thing, If they are done right.  The time it takes to un-wrap the store bought caramels, you can make the real deal...and it's simple.  I've  made homemade carmel apples for "trunk r treat" now for the last 2 years.  This year I made 65.  They were gone pretty fast.  It's funny to see the adults put on their trick or treat swagger to get one.  Gourmet apples have been popular for awhile.  Williams and Sonoma started with the 3 lb. gourmet apple.  This carmel recipe is pretty easy, and has lots of flavor.  You will need a clip -on candy thermometer.   Try this recipe out, then use your imagination on the rest.     Bon Appetite , Peggy

CARMEL DIPPED APPLES


1 lb. dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter room-temp
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk 
2/3 cup dark corn syrup
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. molasses
1/4 tsp. salt
About 12 apples (depending on size)
sticks (popsicles sticks .chopsticks or apple branches)
Toppings  (chocolate, nuts, candies, sprinkles )


In a medium heavy pan combine the the first 8 ingrediansts.   Start out slowly to combine and melt all ingredients. Making sure all the sugar has dissolved.  (you can feel this with rubbing the carmel between your two fingers)  Clip on your candy thermometer and turn up the heat to medium high.  Stir constantly and on occasions brushing down the sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in warm water.  Doing this prevents any crystals from forming and falling into carmel, which would cause the carmel to crystalize.  Once the carmel reached 236 your ready to dip.  Have your apples cold, and toppings at hand.  I found that no matter how well you grease my wax paper or foil,  the carmel still seems to stick.  So once  I've  dipped them I immediately roll the bottom in nuts or sprinkles.  Then I add the chocolate on top.  You can experiment too, and find out the way you like to do it.  Good luck!  p.s. these make great christmas gifts