winter solstice~

tomorrow will be the beginning of winter solstice... julie always takes me out to dinner on that night...it has become tradition that we do not like to miss...this is when we usually exchange our
our gifts..tomorrow we will be dining at clarmont restaurant . one of our cities finest dining places..it has been around for 60years and is fabulous..julie has never been there so it will be really nice to be with her on her first visit..well i hope that i can stay awake long enough to enjoy dinner tomorrow as i will be trying to stay up for the total lunar eclipse tonight
and
then work tomorrow....

below is a picture i took after work in our parking lot...

it is really a beautiful winter scene..

sugar rush~

julies making homemade marshmallows again....

thanks sandy for the recipe... Martha's Homemade Marshmallows

2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract*

Confectioners' sugar (for dusting)

Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment. Let it stand 30 minutes.Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup of water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high. Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees

( or until : firm-ball stage).

Immediately remove pan from heat.With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin. Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.Generously dust an 8 x 12-inch glass baking pan with confectioners' sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out.