As you may remember from previous years, there is baking and candy making that happens during the Christmas holiday season. It seems like there is always a story behind the scenes, as in the Year of the Ugly Fruitcake. Here is a look behind the scenes from this year…
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from the land of burnt walnuts, melted marshmallows, and the never-ending quest for a perfectly executed Christmas treat! As we dive into the festivities of the season, we wanted to share the epic tale of our Christmas 2023 adventures – “The Tale of the Marshmallows.”
Our journey began shortly after Thanksgiving, fueled by ;grand ambitions and a solid plan to send out our delightful homemade treats to brighten your Christmas celebrations. Little did we know, this year’s escapade would involve un-expected twists and turns, making it a story worth retelling.
Our hero, DW, embarked on a marshmallow-making mission, crafting four delightful batches: Vanilla, Peppermint, Cinnamon, and the wild card, Irish Cream. Now, pause for a moment as we address a recurring issue in our kitchen saga – the ever-present danger of preheating the wrong oven. Yes, we have two ovens, and yes, I have a knack for preheating the bottom one when aiming for the top. This year, my oven-related mishap resulted in the unintentional burning of five gallons of walnuts. Who knew nuts could become crispy critters in the blink of an eye?
Fast forward to the marshmallow madness. DW, determined to avoid a repeat of last year’s marshmallow meltdown, stored them safely away from the oven’s grasp. Victory! However, a new challenge arose during the packaging process. In an attempt to be environmentally conscious, I opted for compostable glassine envelopes. Little did I know that my well-intentioned choice would lead to rock-hard marshmallows. Apparently, air and marshmallows don’t play well together.
After a squick consult with the internet oracle, a remedy was found – warm water submersion. Easy, right? Well, not exactly. The marshmallows softened to perfection but clung to the plastic bag like it was their new marshmallow home. After a few failed attempts, I mustered the courage to confess my marshamallow mishap to DW. Fortunately, he graciously agreed to a marshmallow mulligan, and together we triumphed over the marshmallow mayhem.
Due to the packaging predicament, we resorted to plastic bags, but fear not, dear recipients! We decided to embrace the hard marshmallows as the perfect accompaniment to your hot cocoa adventures. So, whether you prefer your marshmallows soft or on the rocks, we hope you savor the sweet chaos of our Christmas tale and have a joyous holiday season and an unforgettable New Year!
Wishing you laughter, warmth, and just the right amount of marshmallow magic.
Love,
DW & Lorri
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Oh dear, that sounds a bit stressful! I’m glad you found solutions in the end
We were told yesterday that the hard ones were the BEST in cocoa. No one was returning them 😉