For anyone with a sweet tooth France is probably the closest you can get to confection heaven. Bonbons, dragées, macaroons, sweet cakes, patisseries, brioche, chocolate truffles, nougat, meringues – the list of sugary delights is long and enticing. I have personally always had rather more of a weakness for savoury rather than sugary but when my mother asked me to find her a little something sweet when I went to the shops yesterday, I had a mouth-watering browse down the confectionery aisle of the supermarket and was delighted to find an old family favourite, the marshmallow. My father always adored these pink and white fluffy treats, and it became a jokey family tradition to buy him a large bag full every Christmas.
It transpires that the modern marshmallow is based on a 19th century French confection which itself replaced the labour intensive traditional sweet which was extracted from the sap of the mallow plant, with a chewy base made from whipped egg whites or gelatin and starch. The marshmallow itself has been known since Egyptian times for its’ medicinal powers which, combined with honey was used as a sore throat cure. I bought a large bag and had some fun this afternoon taking photos of them along with another French favourite the ‘dragées’ or sugared almond…….
View from a French Hillside 
Traditional marshmallows sound a lot more enticing than what passes for a marshmallow these days. I’ve never been very fond of them.
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You could be right Sarah, I confess I tried one, or two or maybe four of them just to make sure I didn’t like them, number six was the clincher , they’re really horrible.. 😀
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I’m so glad you agree, Kane or even Jane!
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This is SUCH A GREAT post!! I love every element! The colors, curves of the ribbons and yummy sweets!! Now I’m dying for a marshmallow!! ❤ Gorgeous as always!
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You are a ‘sweet’heart west517! Thankyou 🙂 PS Now that I’ve taken their portrait I am merrily eating my subjects 😀
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🐻 🐻 Enjoy one for me please!! I’ve just reached into my purse to see if I have a stray chocolate kiss 🐻
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You keep sweets in your purse? 😀 Now there’s an idea! 🙂 I’ll go and eat an extra marshmallow for you, pink or white? 😀 🐻
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PINK!! Definitely 🙂
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🙂
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Oh, such pastel paradise, Jane! It’s confection perfection, and I’d bet if the shop saw how you made their goods look more delectable than they actually tasted, they’d hire you in a heartbeat. You work is truly worthy of an entrance ticket to view.
I’m pretty sure you’d be able to make a plain paper bag come to life with the amount of panache you possess.
Although tempted, I will NOT lick the screen. But I am tempted nonetheless. 😛
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Hi Shelley! Thanks for the lovely comments, you make my day! 🙂 Have to say that these fluffy beauties were quite irresistible subjects in more ways than one, I have almost eaten them all
😦 🙂
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These are gorgeous…GORGEOUS! And I don’t even like marshmallows!
I do however like Snickers bars if you fancy shooting one just for me.
🙂
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Haha! Now there’s a challenge I shall look into 🙂 They are rather pink and pretty aren’t they! I confess they have all been eaten now 😥
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A post garlic bon bon….Always a good idea!
🙂
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Absolutely so sh, I’m looking at Macaroons for my next post, if I haven’t eaten them all first (and I don’t mean Mrs Overall style macaroons either) those pretty pastel things….. 🙂
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I haven’t had a macaroon in an age…….
Wouldn’t know where to track one down if the urge suddenly struck…How sad.
I expect tasting notes.
🙂
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I dream of one day purchasing a ‘macaron’ (the French are very mean with their o’s ) from Ladurée, the epitome of marketing triumph and lifestyle marketing – check out their gorgeous website – I think I can literally only afford the one however 😦 🙂 Mine came from Auchan which is hardly the same thing but we’ll see how they turn out 😕 🙂
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On our last motorcycle trip through La Belle France we almost lived on choccie brioche from Auchan…I’m sure their ‘macaron’ will be a delight.
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If I get chance to take their portraits tomorrow, we shall see, tried one already which was just slightly ‘dégueulasse’ ( I think that translates politely as ‘ a bit puky’ ) – can’t imagine Auchan having more than one flavour either
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EEEuuugh!
Wine in boxes and puky macaroons….I will NOT be coming for dinner.
😦
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No it’s OK, we mainly eat garlic and snails à la Charentaise – you’d be fine
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We were in Toledo for the snail festival immediately before coming back to the UK….I did around 2 kilos in three days.
Heaven…(though you have to watch they’re not past their shell by date).
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Haha 🙂 How did I know you’d like the idea of snails
They cook them here in a garlic (inevitably) and tomato sauce and eat them by the bucketload .. not my favourite I confess, I ‘d rather have the soggy Auchan macaron 
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