Ethan and I just got back from winterland - a week split between Putney, VT and backcountry skiing in the White Mountains - a Birchard family tradition that I've been tagging along on now for five years. This year Ethan got the flu so we ended up going up to the Whites a day late missing the one rainy day and cashing in on two incredible snowy days - the first freezing (-7) but the second clear blue and beautiful. When we got back to Putney the snow kept on coming, so for New Year's we decided on a "Winter Carnivale" themed party complete with two bonfires: one in the sheep pasture, and one on the beaver pond, and a torch light processional in between. In honor of Winter Carnivale, and because there happened to be a candy themometer at the Red House they use to make maple candy, I finally got to attempt marshmallow making (mom and I never got to it over xmas). It was pretty easy, but also a little hot and nerve racking. It only took about 45 minutes to make a batch (my first attempt at dissolving the gelatin turned into a solid hoof because I forgot about it for over an hour) and I think it worked more or less - a little gooey (not so great to roast on the fire), but great in hot chocolate.
Since we got back I've been lurching around the apartment with a scratched cornea (skiing yesterday) and a makeshift bandanna eyepatch. I've got homemade minestrone bubbling on the stove - another first - and feel very lucky that I didn't cut off any fingers in the process. I got this recipe from the Vegetarian Epicure and it smells so good. There's sage and basil in it - and I had to scald the tomatoes to peel them which I'd never done before. And I'm making these baked apples for dessert: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/baked_apples/
Here's the marshmallow recipe if you want to try it:
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