A KISS OF PASSION
Funny how some lines of thought traverse through your daily life, without you even realising it...
While it's still early in the year, there's been a guiding theme through each day, which only struck me today as I walked up the street to buy milk and bread.
Passionfruit [] I am surrounded by passionfruit. I have sat underneath outdoor spaces covered in vines dripping with green leaves and tangled stems holding burgeoning passionfruit. We have been eating passionfruit curd over vanilla ice cream, with a dollop of wonderfully dark chocolate spread - decadent and very adult after a day with children. I have sewn fabrics of entwined vines and flowers and fruit in bold graphic colours - for the pattern on the fabric used for Pia's dress is a passionfruit vine. And today I did something that has been on my list for years. Yes. Years. [It will feel very good to cross that one off!] I made passionfruit marshmallow *. I find the idea of going back to basic cooking, doing something from scratch which we might otherwise take for granted, incredibly satisfying. In the same way I don't believe in buying store bought pizza bases and I make my own dough, and in the way I rarely use a food processor preferring to mix things by hand, I can now see that making your own marshmallows is in that same vein. Deeply satisfying. Decadent almost. And as a textural adventure - absolutely worth it completely for the soft gentle puffs of sugar and egg white. These are so incredibly good, and now I understand why everyone who has made them has written ecstatic things. They melt in your mouth. They look gorgeous piled on a plate. And they were really so easy to make, even if a little messy when a 5 year old helps dust them [and the house] with icing sugar. They are rich - in taste, and in delicate colour.
Little kisses of passion.
[* I used the recipe from Vogue Entertaining Dec/Jan 2009 for Passionfruit Marshmallow and substituted gelatine powder for gelatine leaves]
they look wonderful. and I've really been enjoying your writing lately, Alison!
happy new year!
Posted by: Eireann | January 05, 2009 at 10:07 PM
How delicious!! I remember growing up in Peru we had passion fruit trees right outside our house. Now it is so hard to find them in the US...lovely picture.
Posted by: Paloma Nunez | January 05, 2009 at 11:02 PM
heavenly!
Posted by: irene | January 06, 2009 at 12:50 AM
they sound truly divine...now.if I only had a taste...
Posted by: theresa/t does wool | January 06, 2009 at 02:54 AM
I also find basic, scratch cooking satisfying. It grounds me at times when the chaos of everyday life sets me spinning. I haven't made marshmallows, but they are on my someday-to-do list.
Posted by: Amy jo | January 06, 2009 at 04:00 AM
Oh my goodness! It's 22 here and I have to hear you talk about all of your lovely passionfruit adventures!! It's ok, I feel like I am living vicariously through your lovely summer fun. Keep it coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere!!
Posted by: Brittany Noel | January 06, 2009 at 04:39 AM
you've made me searching for the recipe online right now... after seeing the picture on flickr and now reading them here. it's winter and snowy here, do you think it's a good time for marshmallow? we don't have passionfruit here though. i've been reading your blog for years (yes!!) now, i'm still amazed by everything you do and write here...
Posted by: blossom | January 06, 2009 at 07:44 AM
wow. I think I will be making some marshmallows soon after that wonderful description!
Posted by: tricia | January 06, 2009 at 08:55 AM
...and I've been craving passionfruit since I left Maui, thanks!
Posted by: travelita | January 06, 2009 at 10:06 AM
...and I've been craving passionfruit since I left Maui, thanks!
Posted by: travelita | January 06, 2009 at 10:07 AM
i have *always* meant to make marshmallows. and now.... now i want to even more....
Posted by: lisa s | January 06, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I think that once you have eaten home-made marshmallows there is no going back! Hmmm, off to check my icing sugar supplies, hot chocolate and marshmallows would make the perfect after school treat.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 07, 2009 at 12:14 AM
looks divine!
Posted by: Jamie | January 07, 2009 at 01:20 PM
ok - I need help making marshmallows - everytime I add the sugar syrup to the gelatin mix the sugar instantly crystalises what am I doing wrong?
thanks
Kathreen
(ps happy new year and love the photos)
Posted by: kathreen | January 08, 2009 at 04:19 PM
what a beautiful post, alison. i too get that deep satisfaction from doing things from scratch, crumbling butter between flour in my fingers, taking time to do it that way without plugging in a machine. i have never tried making marshmallows, but they sound so good... i love the way you described them as a "textural adventure"!
xox
Posted by: amisha | January 10, 2009 at 04:44 AM
how very fun!
must go and hunt down that mag, methinks. only because it would be nice to make with the kids. not 'cos i'm like greedy or have a sweet tooth. no, no. it's all about the Children.
Posted by: Kirsten | January 11, 2009 at 12:56 PM
how very fun!
must go and hunt down that mag, methinks. only because it would be nice to make with the kids. not 'cos i'm like greedy or have a sweet tooth. no, no. it's all about the Children.
Posted by: Kirsten | January 11, 2009 at 12:58 PM
They sound sublime...
Any ideas on how to make vegetarian marshmallow? I tried using agar agar once and it was a DISASTER.
Lovely photos, as always
Posted by: Cate | February 01, 2009 at 12:58 PM