Five tried and tested Christmas recipes

CL-Rachaeybaby's Chrimbo marshmallows

'My marshmallows are perfect for munching, melting on hot chocolate and whatever else you fancy doing with them.

'This recipe is NOT vegetarian, as it contains gelatine.'

Ingredients:

• 13oz sugar
• 1/4 pint water
• 2 tbsp gelatine (2 sachets)
• 3 tbsp warm water
• 1 tbsp vanilla essence
• 1/2 tsp salt
• icing sugar

Instructions:

1. Put the water in a pan, dissolve the sugar and bring to the boil, then allow to cool (20 mins cooling or longer).
2. Put the vanilla, salt and colouring (if you don't want white marshmallows) in a large bowl, dissolve the gelatine in 3 tbsp warm water and add to the vanilla mixture. Pour in the sugar syrup and mix with an electric mixer until the mixture turns thick and soft and starts to climb up the beaters to the motor.
3. Pour the whole mixture into a dish that has been lightly oiled and dusted with icing sugar. It won't take long to set, maybe 15 minutes.
4. Turn out onto a surface dusted with icing sugar and use scissors to cut into cubes, roll in icing sugar and then store in an airtight tub.
5. It shouldn't stick together once it has been rolled in icing sugar, and will keep for several weeks (if you have that much self control).