Friday, May 20, 2011

Marshmallows and a bit of an update



It's been a while since the last post, sorry folks, been busy and also slightly lost my blogging mojo! But I'm back now!

Some time ago I watched an episode of River Cottage where Hugh makes beetroot tinted marshmallows. We recently tried some raspberry and rosewater marshmallows that I bought from Bennetts of Mangawhai This great place mainly make delicious chocolates, but on a recent visit I spied cute little bags of their marshmallows for sale. After trying these I was inspired to try my hand at making my own marshmallow. I used Hugh's recipe but as I didn't have any fresh beetroot on hand, I used a little natural pink food colouring:
Here is the mix being poured into the cake tin:


When set (took about 3 hours) I "turned" it onto a board heavily dusted with the corn flour and icing sugar mix. Actually it took quite a bit of prying out with a knife as it is very sticky until coated with the flour/sugar but at least it came out all in one piece!

 The finished cut and dusted mallows:


And they taste delicious of course. Fluffy, light and very very sweet! I also had some in my hot chocolate last night.

On the gardening front, we harvested the kumara (sweet potatoes) recently. We got some very large ones, over 1kg in weight! They were really easy to grow to, the kumara sprouts don't look much when planting, so it's rewarding to see such large ones at harvest time. The supermarkets (or their customers) must prefer the tiny ones which take forever to peel if you need a lot of kumara! Anyway, we are sure that the Maori would have grown them as big as possible to use and store until the next season came around.

3 big kumara growing together
They are left to dry a little in the sun and stored in large paper bags out of the light just as you would with potatoes.


Last autumn harvest of strawberries


Amazingly we are STILL getting the occasional strawberry, it's been pretty mild up here in Northland - during the day anyway - nightime is getting a bit cooler, we're down to about 10 deg C at present.

Here are a few pics from around the farm:

Nerine in flower

Bird of Paradise

The last of the capsicums
at

12 comments:

  1. jeanMay 20, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    You're making me hungry for marshmallows. I think I'll check this out. Your sweet potatoes look like ours.

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  2. Cabbage Tree FarmMay 20, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    They were actually very easy to make, the hardest part is boiling the sugar syrup and not burning it! (I did this with lollipops..)
    Good luck, it's worth the effort.

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  3. MelMay 20, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    I saw that episode of Hugh FW also, can't wait to have a go making marshmallow, looked delish!

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  4. UnknownMay 20, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Hi Bridget, Now you're making me want some and due to the sugar content in them I have to give them a miss. One of my favourite sweets. I used to make the toasted variety years ago. The trouble is- you can't stop at one!
    The garden's looking good. The temps here are starting to drop and we've been getting some big frosts. I noticed on we're getting rain on Sunday and 12deg during the day by Tuesday. Maa.

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  5. Laura @ Our Wee FarmMay 20, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    oh yum!!! those marshmallows look ridiculously good! Must give them a go.

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  6. no spring chickenMay 21, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    I enjoyed seeing the beautiful produce and flora. Here in Oregon, USA the only thing planted is spinach!

    I've always wanted to make marshmallows. Thanks for reminding me!!

    Blessings, Debbie

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  7. littlekarstarMay 21, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Your strawberries look fantastic, wouldn't mind a bowl of those and a few marshmallow squares :)

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  8. Cabbage Tree FarmMay 22, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Hi all, I hasten to add they are VERY sweet. One or two at a time is my limit! This quantity is good to make if you have a) lots of sweet toothed folk in your household or b) intend to give some away as a special gift.
    It is most delicious on the day of making since it is still very soft. After a day or so it starts to dry up (on the outside anyway).

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  9. MatronMay 23, 2011 at 7:12 PM

    What amazing sweet potatoes! Hope they store well for you during Winter.

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  10. Dr MumMay 26, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Well Bridget that beautiful pink is just the colour I want to streak my hair. I wonder if it would work on hair . . . just as a one off for a special event to match my shoes.
    Cold winds and grey skies here in Somerset UK. Horrible.
    Thinking of NZ with deep longing to return. You guys are in the best place indeed. Glad your mojo has returned. Hugs to all. Find me a husband!!

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  11. Cabbage Tree FarmMay 27, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Hi Matron, yes let's hope they keep well. I did make quite a nice bacon and kumara frittata with them. Also a tasty curried kumara soup. Will have to make these again and take photos, in order to do a post!

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  12. Cabbage Tree FarmMay 27, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Hi Dr Mum
    Not sure the pink would 'take' on hair, but it could be worth a go. Maybe use a paintbrush to paint streaks?? Usually the 'crazy' colours available are permanent - I know from experience in my punk days!
    Come back and visit us, will keep my eyes and ears open for a suitor!!

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