My dreams have finally come true..
No I did not win the lotto nor did I win a trip to travel the world. I’ve waited all these years for this moment to arrive. I am now finally the proud owner of a KitchenAid in Empire Red because we all know that red makes things faster right? Before I got the mixer, I bought myself this mixer blade from America because it was dirt cheap and to reassure myself (at that time) that I would be getting the KitchenAid soon. It scraps the bowl as it mixes so that everything is mixed properly but I have a feeling that I’ll be using this blade quite often, just look at how it compares with the regular blade!
Now may I present to you Bellarossa… (Thanks Ant for the name! He is such an ideas man)
So why is it so great? Well just look at it, isn’t it so sexy? But it isn’t just about the looks, it is a multi-functional mixer that can mince, juice, shred and slice, make ice cream, sausages and pasta and even grind grains to make flour! The ice cream maker attachment is on its way and I’ll be getting 3 pasta maker attachments as well.
Now isn’t that a sight for sore eyes?
So what does one make to christen such a beauty? Why marshmallows of course! I’ve always said to myself that when I get a KitchenAid I would have to christen it by making marshmallows. Why? Well because making them by hand would be so tedious; could you imagine trying to whisk up a sugary gelatin mass by hand (a process which could take about 10 minutes)?! It was a tiring effort just to make 200 cupcakes with a hand-held mixer; all that batter and ganache was made without a stand mixer, my arms sure did have a work out though.
It was a matter of boiling up a sugar syrup and incorporating it with gelatin and egg whites. With the amount of sugar going in I was surprised that these marshmallows weren’t sickening sweet at all. Initially I was quite put off by the strongish smell of gelatin but eventually it went away and a big mass of fluffy marshmallow goodness started appearing. Also I think it is quite impossible to have a clean bench free of marshmallow when you make these.
The marshmallows turned out really well; they were so fluffy and soft. SO much better than the store bought ones! May I warn you though that these are addictive. I had to restrain myself because I needed to save them as gifts for the friends who made donations towards this mixer for my birthday. Next up I would like to try make marshmallows from fruit purees or even make a huge marshmallow so I could put it into hot chocolate and eat it like Bart did in the Marge Be Not Proud episode.
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I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make these marshmallows and how fabulous they turned out so I made another batch, this time with matcha (green tea powder). After I’ve poured the mixture onto the prepared pan, I decided to sprinkle matcha over the top which turned out to be a bad idea because it made one side of the marshmallow bitter. So I’d suggest if you were to make green tea marshmallows that you dust it with icing sugar first and then when it has set and is ready to be cut to give a light dusting of matcha over the icing sugar.
Recipe
Adapted from Gourmet, December 1998
Makes about 96 (2cm) marshmallows
Icing sugar (for dusting marshmallows)
2 tbsp + 2 tsp powdered gelatin
1 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup (180g) light corn syrup (essentially liquid glucose)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
1 tbsp cocoa powder (and extra for dusting)
- Grease and dust bottom and sides of a 30cm x – 22cm rectangular metal baking pan.
- Sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water in mixing bowl of stand mixer and let it stand.
- Combine 1/2 cup water, sugar, corn syrup and salt over low heat in a saucepan, stirring with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved.
- Increase heat to medium and boil mixture, without stirring until a candy thermometer registers 115C (240F).
- Remove pan from heat and pour sugar mixture over gelatin mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.
- Mix gelatin mixture on high speed until mixture has nearly tripled in volume.
- Meanwhile, whisk egg whites in a separate bowl to stiff peaks.
- Whisk in egg whites and cocoa powder into gelatin mixture until just combined.
- Pour mixture into baking pan and sift icing sugar evenly over top.
- Let marshmallows set, uncovered, until firm (at least two hours, and up to one day).
- Run a thin knife around edges of pan and invert marshmallow onto a large cutting board. Cut marshmallows roughly into 2cm cubes.
- Roll the marshmallows through the icing sugar (and sifted cocoa powder), coating all six sides, before shaking off the excess and packing them away.
NB – Marshmallows keep in an airtight container at cool room temperature 1 week.
Ooo, pretty…
Awesome way to christen what I’m sure will be an oft used kitchen appliance.
Does the machine come with all the attachments necessary to grind, mill etc?
I’ve always wanted to make marshmallows but feared all the stickyness that comes with them 😛 yours look perfect though!
Finally the red KA appears! 😀 😀 I loveee the marshmallow 🙂
This was the stand mixer which I lusted after for years, and in this colour too! However I’ve now settled for a stand mixer of another brand as I really don’t see myself ever using the available attachments. Really excited to see what you whip up with yours though =D
yum!
I want one, I want one!
nom nom nom!!! I want!!! =P
Ooh, so fabulous – both the marshmallows and the KA, of course!
Wow…didn’t know it has so many functions. Homemade ice-cream..yummm!
Raise your glasses,”To the Bellarossa”!
She’s just beautiful! I have a Sunbeam Patissier, not as flash as the Kitchenaide, but I don’t know what I’d do without it. That paddle is a bit awesome too.
And I’ve made marshmallows, the stickiness lingers in unusual places for weeks! So worth it though, yum!
Woohoo you finally popped Bellarossa’s cherry! Umm never tasted chocolate marshmallows but I think we a need a couple of hot chocolates now! I now await the first KA ice cream… 🙂
I have one in Empire Red too, except mine’s called Aidan. lol. Your marshmallows look awesome and I totally want that beater attachment!
Oh-em-gee you named your KitchenAid!! I heartily approve, I am planning on naming mine whenever I get it. And you finally made the marshmallows, they look sooo good! I have to try making matcha marshmallows now
yummmm! try coconut on the marshmallows next time! ;P
thats one mean machine
Congratulations! How exciting! I remember when I got mine (pink). I was so excited I bought a cover for her lol. Isn’t the Beaterblade fantastic? I love mine to bits and never use the other one.
Simon: No, the KitchenAid does not come with the attachments unfortunately. You have to buy them separately.
Kristy: Thanks! It’s not that messy.. Give it a go! 😀
Anh: Yes, she has made an appearance finally! I’ve hidden her away from you all.. 😛 Wish I can send some over to you.
Mademoiselle delicieuse: Yeah I was tossing up between this and the Breville one but gave into the one I’ve longed for all this time, plus it’s good to have the option of being able to attach diff things onto it to create something other than baked goods.
Betty: They were! 😀
Richard: Go get one! 😀
Ericka: Come up soon and I’ll spoil you 😀
Bel: Hehehe.. thanks! I do think so myself.
SPT: Yeah the ice cream attachment would be an upgrade from the current machine I have at the moment, it’s a win-win situation for me, I get ice cream and Bellarossa 😀
Fee: So much better than using a handheld mixer that’s for sure!
Karen: HAHA.. Popped in great fashion too!
Helen: YAY! I think we should let Aidan and Bellarossa be friends… 😛 You could get the beaterblade of Amazon for $US20.
Steph: Of course I had to name her, my baby now… HAHA. Can’t wait to let Bellarossa be friends with yours… 😛
Jenny: Will do!
Thatssoron: Thanks dude! I love it!
Lorraine: YAY!! Thanks! Yeah I have a cover for her too.. Just waiting for it to arrive from the states 😀
Haha fab! I got my Almond Cream one last week and the first thing I made was meringue. You never realise how hard it it using the hand mixer until you can leave the KitchenAid, walk away and make other things and come back and its done.
Im SO gonna try your marshmallow recipes 🙂
I’m jealous – I was going to get one for my birthday but I don’t have the bench space to keep it out all the time and so thought it would be too hard lifting it out every time I need it. I would love to have that kind of power though 🙂
Oh my goodness – it is so beautiful – just like a ferrari in the kicthen! Congratulations on your KitchenAid .. I love that you have named it too 🙂
Nic: Do let me know how you go with it the marshmallows if you get a chance at making it. I know I’ll fall in love with it soon, I just got my ice cream attachment and am excited to use it soon 😀
Sarah: Awww… I hope one day you’ll be able to get one and display it for the whole world to see as it is very heavy indeed and you wouldn’t want to keep having to bring it out and put it away for each use.
Ladybird: Yes, indeed. It is the ferrari of all kitchen appliances; sexy and great performance! 😛
Congratulations on the arrival of your new baby 🙂 What a gorgeous name!
I love the christening pics. The sky’s the limit now with your new gadget.
Thanks Emma! I love it!
Ooooo, Bellarossa looks so pretty and shiny! And the choc marshmallows ~ yummo!
I still gotta make you something!
oooh I like! She is gorgeous!
Sneh: Oh yes she is 🙂