Shopping with Janine is an interesting experience. Her mind contains a dizzying, meticulously categorized and cross-referenced database of available products, what brands manufacture and distribute them, where to buy them, and how much they cost across several brick and mortar stores and the internet. I have been in a pet store with her, walking across the entire length and around the perimeter multiple times while she evaluated prices, looked for bargains and calculated what the best deal was using which discount cards or coupons or specials or rebates. I have finally learned to hang out in one place until she was finished and we could leave.
One day we were in Stop and Shop, shopping for some essentials when she suddenly veered off into the candy aisle, muttering that she wanted to check for something. She quickly returned, bemoaning the fact that it was not the right time of year to find what she was looking for. Upon further inquiry, she told me her tale of woe about how she could never find this one particular brand of toasted coconut marshmallows unless it was around Halloween and only at a particular Stop and Shop. We were not at that Stop and Shop and it was June, but she thought she'd check it anyway. When it finally was closer to Halloween, she was still not able to find that particular brand of toasted coconut marshmallows.
A couple of months later, when shopping at Whole Foods, we spied a tiny (oh so tiny!) container of vegan toasted coconut marshmallows in the cooler next to the mini-pies. The price on this tiny, tiny Whole Foods vegan coconut marshmallow container? $7.99. Ouch. Believe me, we wrestled long and hard over the thought of buying $8.00 marshmallows. It went against all of Janine's bargain-hunting sensibilities, not to mention my own skinflint tendencies. But she had been deprived for so long of this wondrous sugary sensation, and I had to admit that my curiosity about them was heavily piqued.
We somewhat reluctantly parted ways with our $8.00 and were rewarded with an amazing taste sensation that we heartily agreed was worth every penny. But, after all 12 pieces were gone (yes, 12, and yes, that is roughly 67 cents per marshmallow), and after the sugar high had faded I began to have my doubts about our extravagance. $8.00 for a bit of sugar, air and coconut? What had we done?
My dear friend Tim will attest to my firm belief in finding cheaper alternatives to just about everything (gourmet popcorn, recycled-paper notebooks, haircuts), even if I have to make or do them myself. For me it's all about the process. I conjured up the memory of that Martha Stewart Living cover, and turned to the internet for help and made my very own toasted coconut marshmallows. Janine's verdict? As good as, no... better, than the store-bought brand. Win!
Since then I've made homemade marshmallows for several holiday occasions where I felt the need to bring something for the table. And they are always a hit. I've made variations--instead of the coconut I've made them plain, dipped in chocolate, drizzled with chocolate, and flavored with peppermint and dusted with pulverized candy canes. And the best of the variations, the toasted coconut marshmallows, can now be enjoyed by Janine at any time of the year.
Here is my recipe, which is my hybrid of the Martha Stewart and Cooking for Engineers recipes, along with tips and tricks gathered from other internet marshmallow makers and my own experience. The photos are from last Saturday, as we made some to bring to Easter Sunday dinner.
