Earth-shattering, life-altering discovery du jour
The most excellent Suse has clued me into something so simple, so basic and yet so revelatory that it has changed the way I do things.
Basically it's a new method of roasting/toasting marshmallows. Normally, you'd impale the marshmallow in question, put it over a convenient bonfire (open flame or source of heat will suffice) allow the outside to reach the level of gooey doneness one desires in a cooked marshmallow interior and enjoy it the way you'd enjoy slightly carbonized, sweetened magma.
Suse's method--and here comes the MacArthur Grant* part--is that you peel off the part that is toasted to your liking and then you put it back to toast the newly revealed as-yet-uncooked, former interior, and repeat. Basically, treating the marshmallow as you would raclette.
This, Internet, is unbridled genius, right up there with inventing the bath "sheet" and air conditioning. I don't impress easily, but this has left me wowed. I dunno if this is standard marshmallow procedure among our Australian cousins. If it is, I'm sorry, but Suse shall get all the credit. Although I dimly remember reading she's originally from England, and perhaps that's how they do it there. Still, Suse's place in the pantheon of cool cooking invention people is fixed, and, quite frankly, to Hell with whoever invented this if it wasn't Suse. As far as I care, it's Suse's doing entirely. I will not hear a word against her, nor will I entertain any outbursts of modesty on her part.
Now, while I'm dead-certain this process is utterly brilliant with any ol' marshmallow, it only makes sense to shift your paradigm to a new beat if you mean to do it properly. That is, use a kick-@$$ marshmallow. My personal favorite is Tiny Trapeze Vanilla Marshmallows and I am sitting here going bonkers with anticipation.
If it works out well, I may even go so far as to make my own marshmallows.
Can you tell I'm happy?
-J.
* That's the money you unexpectedly get for being a genius. You can't apply for it, you can't ask for it, you never know who it's really from and most people never find out who gets the money. But it's HUGE money and it goes to brilliant people. Usually.
Comments
Just an FYI from your trusty test kitchen here in Colorado.
(Meaning normal non-foodie types have been doing this for years. And some of us aren't even all that crazy about marshmallows. We just like to play with our food.)
p.s. Love, love, LOVE your choice of illustration, though.
where is my royalty check?
Of course, there IS a lot of Brit blood in my gene pool, so maybe your theory of origin is correct.
I guess I'll try this when he's not at home. :)
Happy anniversary a day late!
Mayhap your mother was not a camp counselor type? (My mother can build a kick-ass campfire from all her girl scout years and camp counselor years.)
We love you, though, Joke dear, and are very glad you have joined the marshmallow toasting club.
Campfire brand marshmellows are the best. Years ago the actually came in a box of 8 and were perfect for roasting. btw, s'mores lovers--this may seem sacralige but make them in the oven, it gives the best melt to both the chocolate and marshmellow.
You use MINI marshmallows.
-J.
But you won't hear a word against me, will you?
Now, how much is that MacArthur thingie worth again?
As far as I care, you invented this. Everyone else can chime in now--well after the facts have been reported--and say "Oh, that...I've been doing that for years." To me this is nothing more than embittered, petty jealousy.
-J.
P.S. Oh, and the MacArthur grant thing is US$100,000 for 5 years.
Hey Joke, have you read Blackbird's new beverage idea? Apparently you can take hot tea, pour it over ice, and then drink it cold. I tried it--it's good!
As you were.
It's another size, not a diffrent species.
Oy,
-J.
I'm just sayin'.
Damn.
I have even been known to do it over a gas stove burner. sad, isn't it?
We always used to cook our marshmallows like that on Girl Guide camps. the main joy though was selecting a really good toasting stick.
S'mores are toasted marshmallows and softened chocolate "sandwiched" between two graham crackers (I think graham crackers may be called something else in Australia).
Very yum.
I like using this "kit":
http://thejokeblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/things-without-which-you-oughtnt-live.html
-J.