Once again it's time for IMBB...the monthly blogging "event" originated by Alberto to get us all creating, cooking, eating and blogging together. Each month we all try to come up with something original to make incorporating the theme ingredient that follows a specific theme. This month's chosen ingredient/theme (it's really both) is gelatin. But not only gelatin - you can substitute pectin or agar (a plant-based gelatin) for your "jelled" creation.

When I read Elise's description of the IMBB theme I was unsure as to what I would do. I'd only made a few things in my lifetime with gelatin...other than opening a box of jell-o and adding hot water, that is. And with all the hub-bub around here lately and working too many hours and having SHF happening this past Friday I did seriously consider making jell-o and um...taking a picture of it. Voila! Jelled.

But...I have been wanting to try to make my own marshmallows for a long time and since making them happens to involve gelatin I thought 'why not try it out for IMBB this month?' I had never made them before and really wanted to see if I could actually do it. Boil sugar, add corn syrup, whip with gelatin. It sounded pretty simple - and it was! And on top of being simple and tasting delicious, my whole kitchen smelled like marshmallows all evening...sort of a sugary, vanillin scent that I could breathe in all day long.

But once the marshmallows were made, what was I going to do with them? I suppose I could have just served them with ice cream or dipped in chocolate. But really, what else does one do with marshmallows than make s'mores? I used a few different recipes to come up with the final concoction and while they are not the s'mores I ate as a kid at camp and my cottage they were delicious. And a real sugar high, too...my heart is still doing cartwheels in my chest from the one I had for dessert tonight.

While plating this dessert my mom (who is usually the more critical of my parents when it comes to my desserts) was standing in the kitchen with me. She grabbed one of the graham crackers that was left over and started munching on it. All I heard from behind me was "these are the best cookies I've ever had" and more munching. Her hand snaked around over my shoulder and nabbed another while I was still plating. When I fired up the brûlée torch (really, an industrial blow torch my dad gave me) and started cooking the marshmallow she shrieked with delight. This was definitely her kind of dessert.

For a huge list of other scrumptious treats made with many different methods of "jelling" check Elise's fabulous round-up!