1. Combine the cornstarch and powdered sugar in a small bowl. Prepare a 9x13 pan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray, and sprinkle a generous dusting of the sugar/starch mixture over the entire pan. Set the pan aside while you prepare the marshmallow, and save the sugar/starch mixture for later use.
2. Combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, and ? cup water in a large pot over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, then stop stirring and allow the mixture to come to a boil. Continue boiling until mixture reaches 260 degrees (hard-ball stage). This process will take awhile, so move on to the next two steps while the sugar syrup cooks, but be sure to check the sugar syrup frequently so that it does not go above 260 degrees.
3. While the sugar syrup cooks, prepare the gelatin mixture. In a small saucepan, combine 3/4 cup water and the vanilla extract. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and stir briefly. Let the gelatin sit for 5 minutes, until it is completely absorbed by the liquid. Set the pan over low heat and stir constantly until the mixture is liquid. At this point, you can add additional colors or flavors, if desired. I recommend using a few drops of food coloring and 1-1.5 tsp of flavored extracts, but the exact quantity will depend on your taste and the strength of your extracts. It is better to start with less and then add more at the end if you want a stronger flavor.
4. While the sugar syrup is boiling and the gelatin is softening, place the room temperature egg whites in the clean bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Once the sugar syrup nears 245 degrees, begin to beat the egg whites. Beat them until they hold firm peaks, but do not overbeat or they will be crumbly. If the egg whites are ready before the sugar syrup reaches the correct temperature, stop the mixer until the sugar syrup is ready.
5. Whisk the gelatin mixture into the sugar syrup. This mixture now needs to be poured into the egg whites. If your saucepan has a spout you can pour it from the saucepan, but if it does not I recommend pouring the syrup into a large measuring cup or pitcher so that it is easier to pour. The sugar syrup is very hot and it can cause painful burns if it accidentally spills or splatters. With the mixer running on low, carefully pour the hot syrup in a thin stream into the egg whites. Once all of the sugar syrup is poured, turn the mixer to medium-high. Continue to beat the marshmallow in the mixer until it is thick enough to hold its shape and is completely opaque. Depending on your mixer, this will take about 5-10 minutes.
6. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top flat with an offset spatula. Let the marshmallow sit at room temperature for several hours or overnight to fully set the marshmallow.
7. Once the marshmallow has set, dust your workstation with a generous layer of the sugar/starch mixture you used to prepare the pan. Lift the marshmallow from the pan using the foil as handles, and flip it facedown on the prepared surface. Peel the foil off the top of the marshmallow, and dust the top of the candy with more sugar/starch.
8. Spray a large, sharp chef's knife with nonstick cooking spray. Cut the marshmallow block into small 1" squares, or whatever size marshmallows you desire. You can also use sharp metal cookie cutters to cut different shapes out of the marshmallow. Dredge the cut edges of the marshmallows in the sugar/starch mixture so that they are not sticky. Your marshmallows are now ready to eat! They are best soon after they are made, but if your environment is not too humid, you can store them up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature. You may need to dredge the sides in sugar/starch again if they get too sticky.
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This is the time of year when I begin trying to shove pumpkin puree into EVERYTHING. I can't help it--I flip the calendar page to October, and like a mindless zombie, out come the giant cans of pumpkin. (Hey, at least it's pumpkin instead of brains!) In some cases, my pumpkin obsession results in success--"pumpkin pie" oatmeal, for instance, is delicious. Unfortunately, I am not always so lucky, and I can tell you from sad experience that pumpkin and tropical smoothies emphatically do not mix.
