Marshmallow Fondant is great for snow!!

So here is my SECRET recipe for Marshmallow Fondant. It is cheaper than rolled fondant and easier to work with in some ways. Tastes better too.

Marshmallow Fondant
1 bag of white marshmallows (8 oz)
2 tablespoons water
1 to 2 pounds of powdered sugar
shortening

Put the marshmallows and water in a microwavable bowl. Heat in the microwave until marshmallows puff up. Stir until smooth and keep adding in powdered sugar until it becomes a little hard to stir. Turn out on counter greased with shortening and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Keep working in more powdered sugar until the fondant gets to the consistency of clay. Grease your hands often as you go to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands too much. It's messy but fun!
Add food coloring before you start adding in powdered sugar if you want colored fondant. Cool and store in plastic bag or container so it won't dry out. Mold the bag into snowmen, people or animals for gingerbread house yards. Makes great snow for rooftops!

Kids, always have an adult present when working in the kitchen.

Marshmallow Fondant - g

So here is my SECRET recipe for Marshmallow fondant! It's cheaper than rolled fondant and easier to work with in some ways. Tastes a bit better too!

Marshmallow Fondant
1 bag of white marshmallows (8 oz)
2 tablespoons water
1 to 2 pounds of powdered sugar
shortening

Put the marshmallows and water in a microwavable bowl. Heat in the microwave until marshmallows puff up. Stir until smooth and keep adding in powdered sugar until it becomes a little hard to stir. Turn out on counter greased with shortening and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Keep working in more powdered sugar until the fondant gets to the consistency of clay. Grease your hands often as you go to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands too much. It's messy but fun!
Add food coloring before you start adding in powdered sugar if you want colored fondant. Cool and store in plastic bag or container so it won't dry out. Mold the bag into snowmen, people or animals for gingerbread house yards. Makes great snow for rooftops.

Kids, always have an adult present when working in the kitchen.

Snowmen for Gingerbread Houses!

So here's a great recipe for making snowmen and other figures for the yard on your gingerbread house:
1 tablespoon shortening
1 tablespoon Karo syrup
1 cup powdered sugar
Add the powdered sugar to the shortening and syrup a little at a time. Knead until pliable like clay. You can add 1/2 teaspoon mint flavoring and 1/8 teaspoon salt if you think you'll eat it. the clay can be colored with food coloring for making little people, animals, etc. Cute stuff!

Book Release!

My children’s picture book, Gingerbread from the Heart, has been released!
It is a holiday book about the excitement of children making gingerbread houses for their grandmother. There’s a crooked graham cracker house, a crazy beach hut, and a nearly perfect fairy tale house with a cookie roof. Each has its own charm, but the question is, which one will grandmother like best?

Illustrated by Missoula, Montana artist, Misty Danyo, a graduate from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, the book is filled with whimsy and rich color.
Available in hardcover or softcover, the book can be purchased at my website,
www.gingerbreadfromtheheart.com or online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.
If you order the book directly from me it will be signed and can be personalized at your request for gift giving.
Also on the website, you will find recipes and tips on how to make gingerbread houses, plus a coloring page for kids. Sign up for the mailing list and I will email you a 3D paper gingerbread house to print out, color and assemble.
Visit www.gingerbreadfromtheheart.com and view the video on making gingerbread houses!
Share the joy of gingerbread!

It's here!

The book is here and we are sharing the joy of gingerbread! Wed. Nov. 5th at 4 p.m. I am doing a gingerbread demonstration and book signing at the mall in Missoula by the clock in front of Herbergers. I will do another on Sat. at 11 a.m. I also am doing a book signing at The Learning Tree in the mall Thurs. Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. till 6.
On Wed. Nov. 11th I will be at Florence school most of the day to read my book to the kids. It will be a fun day! I will be setting up a book signing in Florence that day or soon after!

Christmas!

Hope you all had a great Christmas season! Mine was filled with gingerbread! From Montana to South Dakota to Salt Lake City. Hope some of you caught the Better Utah episode where I taught how to make gingerbread houses with Kim Warren on KJZZ TV.

The illustrations for Gingerbread from the Heart are absolutely delicious and delightful. I'll keep you posted on the official date for the release of the book.

Happy New Year to all!

Janice