In the south many celebrate the same traditions, in the mountains of the south we really celebrate tradition. On New Year's Day we eat hearty helpings of black eye peas cooked with a ham bone or bacon, greens (this year turnip greens with chopped turnips and a sprinkle of sugar), smoked country hog jowl, and a cake of cornbread. The old timers said peas represented good luck and the greens represented wealth in the coming new year. Our family has always celebrated this tasty tradition even though we know that food does not determine our future, unless it's that bacon with every meal rule that may decide a short yet tasty life; but, it's the good Lord who counsels our decisions in life.
I guess one of my New Year's Resolutions was to make fondant and to work with it; I accomplished my goal on the first day of 2013! I have been baking and decorating the monthly cumulative birthday cake for the members of our church for the past few months. Each month I add more and more technique to my cake decorating arsenal and so far this has been the best experience. Fondant is not the tastiest, but it surely is fun to work with. With my first batch I made a few streamers and a cross, with lots of fondant left over to make more accessories for other cakes. Below is the tutorial on how to ake marshmallow fondant, which actually has a decent fresh taste.
Marshmallow Fondant
Yields 1 quart size baggie full
4 Cups Mini Marshmallows
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Water
1 Teaspoon Flavoring (Optional)
Food Coloring Gel (Optional)
1. Place marshmallows into a microwave safe bowl, pour water over marshmallows (also add liquid flavoring at this time if you want.) Microwave on high for 30-45 seconds, remove and stir. If lumps remain microwave at 10 second intervals stirring each time until all lumps are just blended.
2. Quickly combine powdered sugar with melted marshmallows using a very stiff metal spoon, this stuff gets tough. When you have incorporated most of the powdered sugar remove and place on a smooth surface covered liberally with powdered sugar, also powder your hands to prevent sticking. Knead the fondant until smooth.
3. When the fondant is smooth and well combined you can begin to add coloring and knead until blended.
4. Now it is ready to work with, work quickly to prevent cracks from forming.
*To store leftovers: wrap disks of fresh fondant in cling wrap, place into slider baggie, press the air out, and store up to a week.
I tried not to edit this picture too much to show the tacky surface of the fondant, just sprinkle with powdered sugar and presto.
Use a toothpick to add food coloring, start with a little then build (you can add, but it's hard to take away if you have no more white fondant left.)
How to Make Streamers
~~~
This is an extra decoration for our church birthday cake, it's so pretty! The cookie cutter I used was on sale at Hobby Lobby, love that place!
~~~
This is how the cake looked finished (I'm not showing a full view to protect the names on the cake.)
I also want to give a shout out to
Hobby Lobby, it is not too often you see a business (including Chick-fil-a) stand up for it's morals (which happen to be Christan based :) ) I love going into a Hobby Lobby store and seeing a great environment with great deals to boot, I will support their efforts to refuse government infringement on their Christian faith. Here is a great article explaining what trouble they face, beginning today, from the
American Thinker.
As Christians we are to except persecution, such as what Christ suffered for our sins; but, when your own nation founded upon God's leading persecutes you.... you pray hard, really hard. I pray that our nation finds its way back to God before He calls us home and those who don't hear the message fall to the wayside (to a real place called hell.) Let us pray for our nation together that unity and peace in Christ's arms is found!!!
