Marshmallow Madness

As you know, from time to time I am sent cookery books to review. This time Matt from the PGUK Publishers Group sent me a cute book entitled Marshallow Madness, written by blogger Shauna Sever, Piece of Cake.

It's a really pretty little book, with a delightfully bright cover, which is kind of puffy, just like a marshmallow! Inside you will find anything you ever wanted to know about making marshmallows but were afraid to ask. Shauna's concise instructions and hints and tips make it seem like a doddle . . . and actually, having made marshmallows before myself, I can tell you with authority that it may be a bit of a sticky venture, but not as hard as some would suppose, and all of her hints, tips and knowledge will make it all that bit easier.



There are delightful chapters filled with lots of lovely sounding recipes . . . the classics, fresh and fruity, happy hour, for the mallow connoisseur, kids in a candy store and fluffy, puffy desserts! Each recipe includes a really scrummy picture that makes you want to lick the page.



Check out some of the tasty puffy, fluffy marshmallow flavours . . . Stawberry and Vanilla, Buttered Rum, Root Beer Foat, Maple Bacon . . . but that is not all! No, that is not all!!

There are also easy recipes for homemade graham crackers, drinks for mallow dunking and a host if irrestible desserts, including a bevy of whoopie pies and some tasty squares and cupcakes!



If you are in to Marshmallows and sticky treats, then this is the book for you. I can only see one drawback to it . . . and that is that over here in the UK, not all of the ingredients are readily available . . . but they can be found at a price. (There are a few companies here that deal in American products that have such things as corn syrup. You can use golden syrup of course, but it may change the look and taste of the finished product somewhat.)

I liked the drinks section at the end of the book, which contained several tasty sounding beverages that are perfect for going with your homemade marshmallows . . . drinks such as Malted White Hot Chocolate and Sassy Spiced Hot Chocolate to name but a few. We here at Casa de Rayner are quite fond of a warm bedtime bevvie, something like Horlicks or Ovaltine . . . we found two mugs of this delicious Five Spice Vanilla Milk went down a real treat the other night!



*Five Spice Vanilla Milk*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe

Makes a tasty change from the usual bedtime drinks.

500ml of whole milk (2 cups)
3 TBS honey
1/2 vanilla bean, or 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 star anise
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
1/8 tsp ground ginger
pinch of salt



Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat just to the boil, stirring occasionally. (You can tell when it's just to the boil as little bubbles appear all around the edges.) Remove from the heat, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Reheat briefly and then strain iinto two mugs. Serve immediately. (I added some marshmallows to the top, which looked quite pretty. I sliced them into petals with my kitchen scissors.)

Recommended Marshmallow pairings: Classic Vanilla, Apple-Cinnamon, Spiced Cherry, Pumpkin Spice. (All recipes are in the book.)


Marshmallow Maddness by Shauna Sever
Published by Quirk Publishers
ISBN 978-1-59474-572-0
Available in the UK for pre-order here
at the low price of £8.51

Many thanks to Matt from the PGUK Publishers Group for sending me this delightful little book to review!