Pumpkin Marshmallow Pillows

When I was younger my mom would make marshmallow pillows. Marshmallows dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar and then wrapped in a crescent roll (also great for Easter to represent the tomb). I had a house full of boys this weekend and wanted to make them for the kids, I had some pumpkin left over from a previous recipe so I added some to my pillows for an extra flavor.

What you Need:

Crescent Rolls

Large Marshmallow

Melted Butter

Cinnamon & Sugar

Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Puree

Unroll the crescent rolls, I added a tablespoon of pumpkin puree to each crescent, I just spread with a knife. Take a large marshmallow coat in the melted butter and then roll in cinnamon & sugar. Place the marshmallow on crescent roll. Wrap up around the marshmallow I try to close all openings. Then dip the whole "pillow" into the melted butter. I added a pinch of pumpkin spice on top of each pillow. Place into the oven and follow instructions of the crescent rolls. I found they needed to bake a minute or two longer then what my package said but it depends on your oven.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Beach Themed Party ... Starfish S'More's

So this was not made for the party but it fits in with the theme of the party. I had a special request for a 2 y/o birthday and official adoption.  I got confused on the dates and made them too early for the party date, so the kids had a treat and so did my bestie! ONE thing I learned was the cookie cutter I had didn't make the cleanest star shape. I found this fun recipe for Starfish S'Mores on Hungry Happenings.

Ingredients:

1 cup water, divided

3 packages unflavored gelatin (2 1/2 tablespoons)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar

1/4 cup corn starch

1-2 teaspoons butter or non-stick cooking spray

50 squares of graham crackers crushed into crumbs

16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped (or chips)

Special Equipment Needed:

stand mixer or super heavy duty hand held mixer

small saucepan with lid

candy thermometer

9″ x 13″ pan

rubber spatula and/or an offset spatula

star cookie cutter

dipping fork or kitchen fork
parchment paper or wax paper
baking sheet or cutting board
toothpick

First part is you make homemade marshmallows, which isn't hard but not simple. After you make the star cuts you have scraps and not wanting to waste them I cut what I couldn't into squares and rectangles for homemade marshmallows to add to hot cocoa or just to eat. NOW I hate store bought marshmallows, but these are so fluffy and yummy in your mouth!!

Instructions:

Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle gelatin over top of water and allow to soften for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, pour remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt into a small saucepan.  Stir just to combine ingredients. Cover saucepan, place over medium heat, and cook for 4 minutes.  Remove lid, and clip the candy thermometer onto the side of the pan.  Continue to cook, without stirring, until the mixture reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit (about 7-8 minutes.)

Place the whisk attachment on your stand mixer. Turn the stand mixer onto low speed. Very carefully and slowly pour the hot sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the softened gelatin. Once all of the sugar syrup is in the bowl, increase  the mixer speed to high. Whip until the marshmallow becomes very thick and cools to a lukewarm temperature, about 12-15 minutes. Add the vanilla and whip just to combine.

While the marshmallow is whipping, prepare your pan.  Butter (or spray with non-stick spray) the bottom and sides of a 9″ x 13″ pan.  Combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch in a bowl.  Sprinkle evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan. Tap pan to remove excess. Save remaining mixture for later.

Butter or spray a rubber spatula and use it to remove the marshmallow from the bowl. Spread the marshmallow evenly in the pan. Use a buttered offset spatula to smooth the surface.

Dust the top of the marshmallow with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Cover bowl of powdered mixture for later use. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncoveredfor at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Now for the S'mores:

Set a large cutting board on top of the pan of marshmallows.  Turn both the board and pan upside down.  The marshmallow should fall right out of the pan onto the board. If it doesn’t, help it along.  Dust a star shaped cookie cutter with some of the powdered sugar/cornstarch mixture.  Press the cookie cutter into the marshmallow, remove, and press marshmallow out.  Dust cutter again, and continue to cut stars until you can’t cut any more.  As you can see, you will have a lot of marshmallow scraps. Either dust them with more powdered sugar/cornstarch or dip them in any leftover chocolate (be sure to leave some chocolate to attach your candy eyes.)

Pour chopped chocolate into a microwave safe bowl.  Heat on high power for 30 seconds.  Stir. Heat on high power for 20 seconds. Stir vigorously.  Heat on high power for 15 seconds.  Stir vigorously.  If not melted, continue to heat for 10 second increments, stirring after each, until melted.

Pour graham cracker crumbs into a shallow dish.

Place one marshmallow star in the melted chocolate.  Use a fork to press the marshmallow into the chocolate, covering the top and all sides of the star.  Place the fork on the underside of the marshmallow and use it to lift the marshmallow out of the chocolate.  Shake the marshmallow to allow any excess chocolate to fall off.  Flop the marshmallow over into the bowl of graham cracker crumbs.  Remove fork.  Sprinkle and push the crumbs over and up against the marshmallow star.  Completely cover the star with crumbs and allow to dry for 1-2 minutes in the crumbs. Remove from crumbs and set on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or cutting board.

Use a toothpick to dig out small circles of the graham cracker crumbs where the eyes will be on each starfish. Add a dab of chocolate to the holes and place an eye on top.  

Store your marshmallow starfish in an airtight container for up to 1 week.  Package individual starfish in cellophane bags to give as party favors or gifts.

You can throw away the scraps but I like the waste not method and use for other treats!

Enjoy!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

I had some left over goodies from s'mores and found this recipe for Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars on Taste of Home that I made for the Boys and Girls Club workers / volunteers.  I loved bringing them goodies, they helped me so much by giving the boys a safe and fun place to go during the summer while I worked.  I tried to bring them a weekly treat. These were a huge hit!

36 ServingsPrep: 25 min. Bake: 15 min. + cooling

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
• 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 
  
• TOPPING:
• 1-1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups Rice Krispies

Directions

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts if desired. Spread in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan.
• 
  

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Chocolate Marshmallow Banana Surprise Cookies

I made some fun cookies for the boys and girls club workers and volunteers.  My chocolate was a little too thick and I didn't have time to make it rich and smooth, so mine aren't as pretty as Anna's on Cookie Madness. But I had so many of the helpers come up to me wanting me to make them again so that told me they must have been a hit!

2 cups all purpose flour (9 oz)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 stick (4 oz) butter, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 ripe bananas

1 large egg, room temperature

10 marshmallows, cut in half or use 20 marshmallows and just trim them a little**

Frosting

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

6 tablespoons salted butter

1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1/4 cup whole milk or use lowfat milk with a little cream mixed in

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Have ready two cookie sheets lined with parchment.

Stir together flour and baking soda and set aside.

Using high speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter, vanilla and sugar for about 3 minutes. Add the banana and beat it with the butter/sugar mixture until it’s fully mashed. Beat in the egg. Using lowest speed of mixer or by hand, stir in the flour mixture. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto cookie sheets and bake at 350° F for about 11 minutes or until cookies just start to appear set. Remove pan from oven and press a marshmallow half into center of each cookie. Return to oven and bake for 2 to 2 ½ minutes or until marshmallow begins to melt (puffs). Remove from oven and let cool completely. Prepare frosting.

Prepare frosting. Put the confectioners’ sugar in a mixing bowl. In a small saucepan or in a large microwave-safe measuring cup, melt the butter and cocoa. Pour the melted butter/cocoa mixture into the sugar and stir well (I did it while it was hot), then stir in the milk and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over each marshmallow, starting in the center and continuing outward until marshmallow is covered.

Makes 20 cookies

These cookies really did smell amazing :)!

Thanks for stopping by

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Easter Wrapped ... We End with Bunny Tails

We end our Easter Treats with some Bunny Tails for Caden's classmates.  Ok I couldn't just send chalk for the kids, a little sweet treat was needed also.  So it's only a marshmallow in a bag but it's still a cute treat to give.

Super simple to make but so adorable!  I found this simple Bunny Tails treat on Eighteen 25 Blog.  And you know my love of people who include FREE printables, well you have two to choose from!

what you'll need:

• marshmallows
• snack size ziplock bags
• bunny tails toppers download topper 01 or download topper 02
• white cardstock
• stapler

step one: print out toppers and trim off edges

step two: cut white cardstock to 6 3/4" x 4 1/2", score (or fold) in half

step three: place marshmallows in bags and zip closed

step four: staple cardstock to bag.

Alexis Notes: I think she used the EXTRA Large Marshmallows.  I was cheap and went with the large marshmallows, they were on sale at Target for $.99 verses $3.49 for the Extra Large.  What can I say I'm cheap :).  I put 4 marshmallows instead of two like her picture.  She also taped but I skipped that part since they are Kindergartners didn't want to make it too hard for them to open.

Hope you have a wonderful Easter Weekend!  

God Bless!

Lego Birthday Party Domination Continues …

I started my night out with Marshmallow fondant!  Ok people this one is NOT an easy one it is sticky and takes a good amount of patience!

You Need:

• Marshmallows (I used 3 Bags Small)
• 1 Bag Powdered Sugar
• Wilton Icing Color

Put marshmallows in the microwave for 30 second increments and then stir until smooth.  Add coloring to get the perfect coloring.  Slowly adding powder sugar.  You kneed it until it is no longer sticky.  I warn you this will be very sticky and at one point you may think you did something wrong.  Then it will come together .  I’ll show you how it covers the cake after I do this .. lol.

Next I wanted to give Cole something to wear.  I found this Lego Man that you can print on to printable t-shirt transfers.  This was one of the easiest projects I’ve done so far.  I even found a Ninjago Cole that I printed also and put on his shorts.

And last on my list was to make Lego Gummy Candy found on Instructables.  They have the cutest video with the kids making them.  I made yellow and red bricks to go with our color theme.  This was pretty easy, it was a little time consuming but over all it was a cool thing to do.

You Need:

• 1/2 Cup Water
• 3 Gelatin Packets (Knox or Generic)
• Vitamin C (if you want – I did for flavor)
• Jello

Put water and gelatin packets, stir until dissolved and let sit for about 10 minutes.  She had hers in a glass dish that then boiled in a pan.  I did the double pan method (since my glass dish was being used).  Turn your water bath on Medium High place your gelatin pan in and stir.  Once becomes liquid again add your vitamin C if you’re doing that.  Than add Jell-o flavor.  Stir it all together and then take a syringe to put into your mold.  I doubled the recipe to be able to do both my molds.  Put in fridge and 10 –20 minutes later you have your gummies!

OK I’m done … oh wait I still have the cakes to do!  Oh man I’m going to be one tired mama.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend.  I’ll be happy when Saturday comes!

Treats for others

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July.  It was a bummer it was on a Monday which means yes you get Monday off but have to work Tuesday.  Let’s just say not a lot of sleep when your neighbors are trying to blow up the town.  Very little sleep for this mama so a quick post of yummies .

My amazing friend Nichol posted a link with the top 10 popsicles (click her name to go to the post).  These Rainbow Pudding Pops were so easy to do and very cool for the kids!  I did it the easy way and instead of separating into different bowls I just did 6 puddings and did one color per bowl then poured cleaned the bowl and made the next color.  I’m all about making it easy .  NOW next year I think I’ll do red, white and blue for the 4th of July.  I know isn’t that a cool idea.  Yup those ideas always come to me too late … lol.  Now let’s hope I remember next year!

For the different holidays I like to make a special treat for my boss and my secret sister at church.  I made this Marshmallow Muffin Mix in a Jar for both of them.  I found these marshmallows colored for the 4th and just had to find a recipe to make .

And I made a 2nd jar to send off to my boss.  These Cowboy Cookie Mix in a jar I think was a classic yummy cookie!  I made the label with a stack of oatmeal cookies translucent behind the recipe.

Happy Tuesday everyone, I hope your day goes well.  All I know is I’m going to be drinking a lot of coffee!  BAD day to be out of K-cups for my coffee maker!  Guess I’ll be using the French press today!

Make sure to stop by and see some more recipes at Thursday Recipe Swap Meet.