Mickey Mouse Marshmallows!

 This week is ending on a good note.

My sweet little grandson had a serious

surgery on Monday.

 God brought him through it wonderfully!

Recovery will take some time of course, and we all feel so blessed :)

There has been a lot of spoiling going on this week. I really wanted to make something that I knew he would love.

It had to be something Mickey Mouse.

  He LOVES Mickey.

Way back in the fall we surprised our 

grandbabies with a Disney trip!

 The countdown and excitement began.

Then we found out about the surgery.

It will still be several days until we know if the doctor will give us 

the go-ahead..and so the waiting continues.

Either way, this blessed Grandma is happy that her grandson is healthier now :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mickey Time..I googled Mickey Mouse.. ..Mickey cookies, cupcakes etc.

It is amazing how much inspiration you can find on-line :o)

In the end, I came up with these when I saw the adorable Disney's Mickey Mouse Caramel Apples on The Disney Food Blog.

It still amazes me how few ingredients you need to make your very own marshmallows.

I have tried a couple different recipes, and as I wanted a firmer marshmallow so i could easily hand dip these..I used this one. Great Recipe!

The only item you may not readily have on hand is the unflavored gelatin. If you've never made your own marshmallows, you may want to buy several boxes..because you're gonna want to make MORE!

 Mixing the water and vanilla with the gelatin.

.....

 It does have an "applesauce" look once you've stirred them together.

I use Karo syrup..

 Sugar & Salt..

 I love my flat paddle candy stirrer..

 Every time I make these, I just know they're going to burn. (My first 2 attempts were horrible failures due to a bad thermometer)

If  you have a good thermometer this only LOOKS scary! If you're not sure about yours, try this test.

 Boiling..

 They say a watched pot never boils..

this one will!

 We've reached 250.

 You have to be careful here as this is some hot stuff!

It's not really that difficult..unless you're trying to take photos at the same time ;)

 Set your timer as it will take several minutes to "fluff up"

 Yay! It's beginning to look like marshmallows!

 This stuff is seriously sticky..so you won't be able to get all of it into your dish..but you can lick the bowl :)

 Ahhhh!

 After you've poured the candy into your prepared dish, (lightly sprayed with Pam)  let it set several hours. I let mine set overnight with a sheet of parchment paper laid on top of dish (not touching candy).

 The next morning it easily peels right up :o)

 Flip the candy top side down onto your equal parts cornstarch & confectioners sugar mix.

  Use any shape cookie cutter for your candy. Dip it into the cornstarch mix before cutting.

If you don't need shapes, just use a pizza cutter to make squares.

 I used Jelly Belly beans and red sugar to decorate.

 I used Wilton light cocoa candy melts to dip one side of the Mickeys.

 Sprinkle your sugar..

 and place your jelly beans..

 so cute!

 I didn't have enough yellow "buttons"..

so I had to use some red ones. I think they're still cute..don't you?

I made some little labels on Picnik to make a "feel better quick" package. I just made the design and printed them out at the 3x4 size. Sorry I don't have a download..I still have a lot to learn!

Blessed & Happy Baking

from

Sugartown Sweets!

I love all your comments

& read every one!

Hearts In Bloom Brownie Bites!

Hearts In Bloom Brownie Bites!

How fun are these? :o)

Valentine's Day is a little over two weeks away..

and i'm loving all the sweet little heart treats everywhere.

So..here's my contribution. 

I couldn't wait to make these today...

Here's what you need to get started

if you'd like to make them too!

Fondant & Mini-heart cookie cutter.

I used Wilton rose icing color.

Just mix a nice little glob into the fondant with a toothpick and knead it until it's a nice smooth color.

 YUM-O! I love Trader Joe's Ready-to-bake brownies.

I've made tons of brownies over the years..homemade and mixes, this is my current favorite. They are dense, cakey, fudgy..mmmmm :o)

I stirred 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels 

right into the bag. Super simple!

I baked these mini-cupcakes for 18 minutes@ 350.

 My 4 inch lollipop sticks seemed a bit too tall

for these mini-cupcakes. I trimmed 3/4 inch off each one.

  I should have measured the thickness of the fondant..i didn't..so here's a photo..

  Gently insert stick into the fondant lollipop.

Do not insert the end that you cut..it's not smooth enough

and will make the fondant a bit lop-sided. 

Let these set up for about an hour.

 Pretty...

.....little heart lollies :o)

 I used a bag of Wilton's green candy melts.

This candy cup mold wasn't quite right....

...so I used regular cupcake liners.

 These worked just fine.

Chill the finished cups for about 10 minutes.

Gently peel off the paper liner.

 Now we can paint our fondant.

Again, I used the rose color.

I dabbed a bit on a plate and mixed in a couple of drops

of water as I needed.

I just used a Wilton paint brush.

 Just imagine you see a picture of the sprinkles....

sprinkling onto the freshly painted lollies...

because i forgot to get any shots of those!

 I used a can of Pillsbury chocolate frosting.

Just a swirl and a few mini heart sprinkles.

 I dabbed a bit of frosting on the bottom 

of the cupcake so it will adhere

to the "grass' cup.

 Now just place into the "grass cup".

 Tie a pretty little ribbon onto your lollipop stick.

Press into the cupcake and you are done!

 LOVE

 these colors!!.

 Sweet :o)

 These little nonpareils are so cute! 

 Just a couple more shots..

 Red sugar sprinkles..

 Sweet and Happy Baking

From

Sugartown Sweets!

Thank you so much for stopping

by my blog today!

I love your comments.. let me know what you think about this post :o)