Daily Herb-o-Scope - Old Fashion Homemade Marshmallow Root Candies

It’s crazy to think that the fluffy and sticky marshmallows that we roast over camp fires have herbal healing origins. Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is no longer an ingredient in the common marshmallows but back in the day, this mucilaginous herb was prepared into candies to get kids to eat this plant, helping with coughs and other respiratory issues. Its mucilaginous feature makes it very soothing to irritated and inflamed mucous membranes especially the lungs and the GI tract. In the Respiratory system, Marshmallow root is indicated for asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis and a dry and unproductive cough (not coughing up much gunk).  Because of marshmallow root’s moistening property and its content of fiber, this plant is also great at dealing with GI issues including IBS and Crohn’s disease or when there is hard dry stool or issues of urgent burning bowel movements.  

          

So after a long weekend of eating the conventional marshmallow loaded with ingredients that no one should eat I thought I’d try to make old fashion marshmallow candies. The receipt I found is from Lesley Tierra.





Ingredients:

Ø      2 egg whites

Ø      1 tsp vanilla

Ø      ½ cup raw cane sugar

Ø      1 tbsp powdered marshmallow root

Directions

Ø      Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F

Ø      Separate 2 eggs, keeping the whites (I also kept the yolks for breakfast tomorrow)

Ø      Whip the eggs whites until they are foamy. Don’t get them too stiff because there is still some mixing to do

Ø      While continuing to whip the egg whites, add in the other ingredients - add the vanilla first

Ø      Slowly add the sugar

Ø      Add the marshmallow powder

Ø      When it is well blended, scope mixture onto the cookie sheet. For smaller candies use a teaspoon of mixture at a time. I used a tablespoon to get bigger marshmallows.

Ø      Bake for 1 hour.

Ø      Remove them form the cookie sheet and let them cool before enjoying.

      Here are some photos from the process

Start whipping the egg whites

Egg whites are whipped and ready to add the other ingredients

Other ingredients have been added

Scooped and ready to bake

Finished Product!

    I must say they were very tasty, crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside; however, they do not resemble modern marshmallows. Overall I think these old fashion marshmallow candies would make a great remedy for kids that they would enjoy.