Pomegranate Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows are incredibly fluffy and full of flavor, and these pomegranate marshmallows produces an amazing sweet and sour combination.

If there is one thing you should know about my cooking style is that I am a haphazard cook. I have two small countertops that are typically over-flowing with my ingredients, bowls, measuring spoons and  chopping board.

I am typically distracted and thinking about twenty other things I need to get done that day (or evening). Usually, I answer homework questions while I chop, measure and sauté. In other words, I improvise a lot, floating between thoughts of olive oil and algebra.

This works out fine when I’m cooking a meal, but not so much when I am baking. It’s a terrible way to make candies or other sweet confections requiring impeccable timing, exact measurements and precise steps to follow.

I was very excited to receive Marshmallow Madness! by Shauna Sever in the mail. I’ve tried making marshmallows before.

Once.

Yes, you can guess what happened.

Something happened. I happened. It didn’t turn out. A rubber scraper was sacrificed for the cause.

I thought to myself, if this book is all about marshmallows and Shauna is an expert in making marshmallows, then I should not be able to screw this up. Because, quite frankly, making candies and confections is an exact science.

And if you want the masses to invest in another cookbook, you better know what you are talking about. And Shauna does. I did my best to screw it up. Seriously.

I really did screw it up. My fault in measuring. Not Shauna’s!

I humbly started over. Of course, I improvised her recipe for Concord Grape Marshmallows and made Pomegranate Marshmallows.

I stumbled along and doubted myself.

“What am I doing? ME? Make marshmallows? If it requires a candy thermometer, I always screw it up.”

Shauna has really broken the steps down for even a candy simpleton like me to follow. She explains in detail the marshmallow making process, the best place to store your homemade fluffy creations, every little detail where one could screw up (like me) has been addressed.

My Pomegranate Marshmallows turned out beautifully. Puffy pillows of pink fluff. There was a hint of sweet and sour that made these a giant hit with the kiddos. Even my doubting-husband was pleasantly surprised.

I loved watching my pomegranate goo transform as it whipped…

… and whipped…

… and whipped…

… and WHIPPED!!!

You will find numerous other inspiring marshmallow treats that  you wouldn’t dream to be possible in this book. From margarita marshmallows to chocolate malt to root beer.

And they come in all shapes, sizes, flavors and colors. My kids fell in love with this kid-friendly puffy book filled with a rainbow assortment of treats and drool-worthy photographs.

A real delight for any baker, chef or cook of ANY SKILL LEVEL.

My kids want me to make the Root Beer Float Marshmallows next. And, I am confident that they will turn out, despite my fumbling efforts in the kitchen!