and marshmallows for all

You might remember our family Christmas tradition of mailing a sort of care package to each family outpost. (Don't worry--I don't really expect you to remember this.) We all wait, if we can remember, to open our respective packages on Christmas day to see what sorts of fun or useful gifts have been included. Sorry I couldn't send one to you too, but I thought you might enjoy seeing this year's contents all the same. Todd wrote it, so I can't take any credit:

And a Merry Marshmallow Christmas to you!

This year’s Christmas package contains items of just one kind—marshmallows in all their glorious variety! Each type of marshmallow has been selected specifically for you by one of us. Here’s what we’ve each chosen.

1. Tsia: Japanese marshmallow treats.

These are one of Tsia’s favorite treats. She says, “You have to come to New York to buy them. [Editor’s note: We get them at our local Japanese grocery store.] Only eat them after dinner because they have a lot of sugar. They are so good. I like apple and strawberry inside.” Tsia picked out some bags of each kind, so your package will have either the apple- or the strawberry-filled kind.

2. Todd: marshmallow snowmen.

You may already be familiar with Todd’s addiction to the wonderful Easter candy known as Peeps. He was extra excited this year to discover that we can make them a central part of our family’s Christmas celebration, too! Todd has some very specific instructions for “ripening” the peeps. “Some people like their Peeps fresh and chewy. I don’t. A Peep doesn’t truly reach its Platonic form of true Peepness until it’s perfectly ripened. Here’s what you need to do to encourage these little gems along. Make a long slit on the top of the package. Allow the package to sit open, but untouched for 7-10 days. Then enjoy!” A ripened peep develops a crunchy, hard crust and a slightly more chewy center.

3. Liesl: homemade vanilla and peppermint marshmallows.

Years ago, Liesl saw an article in Martha Stewart Living about making your own marshmallows. She thought, “Oh, please, Martha. Like anyone has time to actually make marshmallows. Why would you bother?” Then, a few years ago, she decided to give it a try. The result? Heavenly flavored cubes of gelatin and corn syrup filled goodness! These homemade marshmallow are flavored especially for the holiday season. Enjoy them with a cup of hot chocolate for a warm holiday treat on a cold night. But be careful. They are sweet. So sweet, in fact, that they recently beat our ultra-sweet tooth of a kid. She couldn’t finish one and was so ashamed of her defeat that she tried to hide the leftover in the garbage, not being able to admit that she wasn’t up to the challenge of eating a whole one.

We hope that you enjoy our package full of marshmallowy happiness and that you have a merry Christmas!

Love,

Liesl, Todd, and Tsia