If You Can't Buy It, Make It

One of the frustrating things about living abroad is not being able to find those trivial little things that you could run to any Kroger or Walmart and pick up to make your favorite recipe. Well I was really wanting to make that fruit dip that you mix a jar of Kraft marshmallow cream with a container of cream cheese. One would thing that was a very simple recipe, but if you can't purchase the marshmallow cream anywhere you have to explore other options. Today was a day that I am glad that God let Al Gore think he invented the internet, because I hopped online and googled "homemade marshmallow cream." To my wonderful surprise I the first recipe that popped up proclaimed it was the best homemade substitute for the Kraft marshmallow cream. Very simple ingredients that I happened to have in the house...it did call for light corn syrup which is another thing you can't buy in the UK, but it had a link from it that told you to mix 2 tablespoons of water with 1/2 cup of sugar instead. Well sure enough I had doubts, but it turned out perfect. I didn't believe that you would actually have to beat it for a whole 10 minutes but it did. I just stood there with my American hand mixer plugged into our big converter in the kitchen and bopped away to some music I had playing. Like other things I've found that I used to be able to conveniently buy and now have found a homemade way of doing it I think I may stick with the homemade versions because I actually know what's in it.

Here's the recipe for homemade marshmallow cream if you find yourself in such a predicament:
3/4 egg white
1/2 cup white corn syrup (1/2 sugar + 2 Tbsp of water)
1/8 tsp of salt
1/2 icing sugar (powdered sugar)
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
Combine egg white, corn syrup, and salt. Beat with mixer on high for 10 minutes or until thick. Add icing sugar and beat on low until blended. Beat in vanilla until blended. Use in any recipe that calls for marshmallow cream. This recipe yields 2 cups and the cream can be frozen if you don't need all that you make up.

Enjoy!!!