Easter Bunnies (AKA PEEPS)

Homemade Marshmallow 

Bunnies and Chicks

Ingredients (Makes about 1 1/2 cups)

1 unflavored gelatin (2 1/2 teaspoons)
1/3 cup cold water (for gelatin)

1/4 cup water (for syrup)
1 cup sugar (evaporated cane sugar)

Colored sugar

(or make your own with food coloring and sugar)

Cocoa powder and water (optional; for eyes and nose)

Directions for making marshmallow:
In the bowl of your Kitchen Aid (or the like) bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/3 cup cold water.  Let the gelatin sit for about 5 minutes to soften.  I started this before making the syrup.  You will need a deep bowl, trust me.  And the kitchen Aid.

In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup water and sugar to make a syrup, and stir over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring, and place a candy thermometer into sugar water; scrap sides of pan if sugar crystals have splattered up. Boil sugar until temperature reaches the soft-ball stage (238-240 degrees). Remove syrup from heat, let cool a few minutes; (you know me, I didn't wait, but it turned out anyways.  Whew!)  Add to softened gelatin. In the mixer bowl, hand-stir the mixture a few minutes to cool and combine; place bowl on the mixer stand. Using the whisk attachment of a Kitchen Aid on medium high with the whisk attachment until soft, white peaks form and the marshmallow mixture holds shape, 8 to 15 minutes.  I set my timer and walked away.  And it worked!

Piping the chicks:

Transfer marshmallow mixture immediately to a large (14-inch) pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch tip, and use immediately.  This stuff sets FAST.  At the end I ended up dumping the some onto a plate of sugar.  Wasn't pretty, but it tasted good!  Pipe onto greased or sugar dusted pan.  Sprinkle with sugar.

To use a Mold:
 Lightly coat a silicone mold or small pan with Palm Shortening. (Don’t skip this step!!! Not that I would know why or anything.  LOL)   Immediately and quickly spoon into prepared mold or pan (the mixture will set quickly so don’t wait long, I can't ~ahem~ stress this enough....).  I smoothed out the tops with a flat knife.  If you used a pan, cut desired shapes out of marshmallow with lightly greased cookie cutters after the marshmallow sets. If you used a mold, wait a few minutes and then pop them out of the mold.  Drop marshmallows onto a bowl covered with colored sugar and move them around to coat each side.  To make eyes and nose, use melted chocolate chips.  I dipped a toothpick into melted chocolate, then dabbed dots onto sugar covered marshmallows.

Manna~ God's Provision

As we get nearer and nearer to my oldest's birthday, I realize, how fast time is going.  My life is consumed with being a mom.  Its my job and calling in this stage in my life.  I also realize how little time left I have to impress upon my children the values and faith I wish them to have.  As I have said before, I do know they are on loan from God and He loves them even more then I can possibly love them, but that also increases my desire to raise them "right," (for the lack of a better word.)

As I was doing my devotional this morning, I was reading about manna.  For those of you who may not know the story, God lead the Israelites out of Egypt, away from slavery.  Then for 40 years (I can't even fathom this!) He lead them wandering around the Sinai desert.  They were utterly dependent on Him for food (this is where the manna comes into play), water, and meat (quail).  God knew that self-sufficiency for them would draw them away from Him, rather then to Him.  

As a parent, I think when our children do certain things it is humbling to the point that we need utter dependence on God.  We are on our knees praying that they wouldn't do this thing, or that they would do this thing...  Realizing that reading the Bible and praying daily is our manna.  Our complete sustenance.  To raise my children "right" I need manna to sustain and guide me.  I need that total dependence on the One who created me.  I like (ahem!) control.  I like to hold tight to that sense of being in control.  However, depending on God for my children is necessary.  I need to release them to God's control. I need to trust my children to God each morning, He knows what He is doing!  Way better then I do.

Exodus 16:4

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

GNOWFGLINS link up