Holiday Recipes & Kids and Christmas

We would like to thank everyone who came to our activity last night. We know how busy your lives are right now! I don't know about you, but it was just what I needed! There was such an incredible spirit as we listened to the perspectives of the women who surrounded Christ. It was the Innkeeper's wife who touched me the most....she wanted so badly to help Mary & Joseph and knew how special the Christ child was. We had some beautiful musical numbers: Sisters Murphy, Olpin, & Eyre played a Violin/Piano musical number, Sisters Carbine & Kearhl sang solos. We also had a chance to sing some songs as a group. Afterwards we had some delicious treats! Sister Adamson made delicious Hot Chocolate and homemade caramel marshmellows. We also had a variety of other treats to choose from. We will be posting the recipes for these treats over the next couple of days. Here are the first few:

Basic Hot Chocolate
4 cups of whole milk
8 ounces of chocolate
3 tsp powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon of salt
Finely chop the chocolate into small pieces. The pieces have to be able to dissolve easily in the liquid.
Place the milk into a small, thick-bottomed pot on low heat and bring to a low simmer. Whisk once in a while to ensure that the milk doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, salt, and chocolate and whisk vigorously until the chocolate has melted.
Heat for another 4 minutes, constantly stirring.
Serve. Add a dollop of whipped cream if you want.
Serves 4.

White Hot Chocolate
8 cups of whole milk
12 ounces white chocolate , finely chopped
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
Using a vegetable peeler, shave chocolate into curls; set aside.Place white chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl; set aside. Place milk and cream in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until bubbles begin to form around edges of pan (about 4 minutes). Do not boil.Remove mixture from the flame. Immediately pour over white chocolate. When chocolate begins to melt, gently stir to combine.Whisk in vanilla. Continue whisking until light foam forms.Serve immediately. Garnish with chocolate shavings.


Martha Stewarts Homemade Marshmallows

4 packages unflavored gelatin
3/4 C cold water
3 1/4 C granulated sugar
1 1/4 C light corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 C water
2 tsp pure vanilla extract (peppermint extract if desired...great for hot cocoa!)

Spray 9x13 pan w/cooking spray.
Cut a piece of parchment or waxed paper large enough to cover the bottom of the dish and to overhang
the longer sides. Place the parchment in the dish and brush with oil, set aside.

Pour 3/4 C cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer, and sprinkle gelatin on top. Let stand 5 minutes.

Place sugar, corn syrup, salt and water in a medium saucepan. Set over high heat, and bring
to a boil. Insert a candy thermometer, and cook until it reaches soft-ball stage (238*), about 9 minutes.

Using the whisk attachment, beat hot syrup into the gelatin on low speed, gradually increase speed to
high, beat until mixture is very stiff, about 12 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Pour mixture into the prepared
baking dish, and smooth the surface with as offset spatula. Set aside, uncovered until marshmallow
becomes firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.

Cut into squares with a pizza cutter, and toss in powdered sugar.

Here is a cute Mormon Messages video. Enjoy!