MMM...MMM...Marshmallows!
by Judy Parker

You might like yours toasted golden brown or burned to a crisp. Others like them right out of the bag. No matter how they are prepared, it seems everyone enjoys these tasty treats.

The real "marsh mallow" is a pink-flowered plant that can grow to about five feet tall. It is found near salt marshes and riverbanks. Over 3,000 years ago, the roots were used by Egyptians to make candy. This treat, however, was only for the enjoyment of royalty.

Fast forward to the 1800’s: another use found for the marsh mallow was to cure coughs. The plant’s juice was combined with sugar and egg whites. It was hardened and made into lozenges for sore throats. It was also made into a paste and applied to the chest to ease congestion.

The marsh mallow plant is no longer used for today’s marshmallows that you buy in the store. This candy is now made from gelatin, sugar and syrup.

The marshmallows we are familiar with were first made in France about 1850. This was a slow and costly method. Each one had to be poured into a separate mold. Finally, in 1950, a man named Alex Doumakes invented a process called "extrusion", which made it much quicker to produce the delicious dessert.

One of the most popular ways to eat marshmallows is the recipe called "S’mores". While you can enjoy these on camping trips, you can also make them over the grill at family barbeques or right in your microwave. How about marshmallow apples (coring an apple and stuffing it with a toasted marshmallow) or marshmallows and fruit on skewers? Another yummy treat is miniature marshmallows, floating on top of hot cocoa.

You don’t have to be royalty to enjoy the marshmallow these days. But you might feel like it when you take that first bite. Mmm…mmm…marshmallows!

How to make S’mores:

1. Place Hershey bars on graham crackers.
2. Toast marshmallows.
3. Place toasted marshmallows on Hershey bars to melt chocolate.

Another tasty recipe you can try with marshmallows is Strawberry Shortcut Cake, using miniature marshmallows.

How to make Strawberry Shortcut Cake:

1. You will need 1 cup of miniature marshmallows, 2-10 oz. packages of frozen strawberries, a 3 oz. package of strawberry flavored gelatin, 1 package of white cake mix, 1 cup of water, 1/3 cup of oil, and 2 eggs.
2. Heat oven to 350 and generously grease a 12 x 9 inch pan.
3. Sprinkle the marshmallows over the bottom of the pan.
4. In a bowl, combine thawed strawberries and gelatin. Set aside. In another bowl, blend the cake mix, water, oil and eggs until moistened. Beat 2 minutes on high. Pour the batter over the marshmallows. Spoon the strawberry mixture over the batter.
5. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool completely. Then serve inverted with dollops of whipped cream.

For more information about marshmallows and delicious ways to cook with them, go to www.campfiremarshmallows.com .