Spas and Marshmallows

I am going to share with you two absolutely amazing things that have changed my life…in very different ways.  First, the beautiful phenomenon known as the:

Korean Spa–

If you do not have one of these near you, I pity you.  I truly do.  If you have one, but have never been, I…well, I just, quite frankly, am upset with you.  Let’s discuss the Korean Spa in length, shall we?

I don’t know what the cost is around the other states, but here in LA, where everything is more expensive, a simple visit to the spa is only about fifteen bucks.  This does not include any services.  "Why the hell would you pay $15 just to walk in the door?" you say?  I hear you – that’s crazy talk!  This is why:

1.    The jacuzzi tub.
2.    The cold dip pool.
3.    The super-hot soaking tub.
4.    The dry sauna.
5.    The steam sauna.
6.    The oxygen stone room.
7.    The relaxing area, complete with overstuffed Lazy-Boy chairs.
8.    The sleeping room- dark, cool, quiet, with plenty of warm blankets- for napping.
9.    The robe, slipper and towel service.
10.  The hot water, coffee and tea.
11.  The free shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion (usually higher-end stuff like Paul Mitchell, Darphine, etc).
12.  The free toiletries and beautifying devices such as q-tips (for drying your ears), hairdryers, tissues,        
        curling/straightening irons, toothbrushes, etc.
12.  And, depending on your particular Korean spa, it may include:
          a.  A fitness room.
          b.  A special pool filled with extremely hot tea for soaking.
          c.  A swimming pool.
          d.  A room with gold-flaked walls (I read about one in New York…same price, too!)

All at your disposal for as long as you want during their operating hours.  And if that weren’t enough, for just a minimal fee (compared with the overpriced "upscale" spas), you can receive full body treatments ranging from shiatsu massage (about $50 + the $15 spa admission fee) to a complete full-body scrub and massage, including a facial mask and a hair wash and conditioning – think of it as a head-to-toe pampering (about $70, includes $15 admission fee).  And if you think you know what a scrub is, you’re sadly mistaken.  These little Korean ladies have made it their personal mission to scrub every last flake of dead skin (and probably some of the live ones too) off your body.  It hurts like hell and you are ready to meet your maker by the time she flips you over and starts on your front side, but your skin has never been softer than when you hop down off that table.

The Catch

You have to go naked.  Well, you don’t go to the spa naked, but once you’re inside the Ladies Only (if you’re at a co-ed spa) or locker-room area, you must strip down and leave all your coverings in your super-cool locker.  They have these little magnetic keys that, when placed in the huge hole of a lock, mechanically unlock it and twist open.  (What can I say?  I’m easily amused.) 

Now, for lots of people, this isn’t a big deal.  And trust me, those people are already shuffling around their local Korean spa.  If you’re the kind of person that absolutely shudders at the thought of being naked in front of others, take these tips into consideration:

1.  Everyone else in there is naked too (Except for the receptionist and the little Korean ladies that scrub the skin off
     your skeleton).
2.  Ain’t nobody lookin’ at you.  They’re too worried about you looking at them.
3.  Trust me.  The jacuzzis and saunas and the "aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh" of all of it will cause you to not care within
     being there for only five minutes.
4.  They have little spa robes you can wear when you’re not in the "wet area."  If you’re in the relaxing room or the
     sleeping room, you can be in a robe.  In fact, you should be in a robe.
5.  Yes, you are even naked when the little Korean lady (in a black bra and panties, bee-tee-dub) is working you over.
6.  If you choose to be worked over by the little Korean lady, be prepared to be treated like a slab of meat.  She does
     not care that you have girl bits.  It doesn’t bother her that your hips are too wide.  She could care less about the
     extra bit of fat you have in your "love-handles."  She has one mission and she refuses to think it’s impossible: she
     is to scrub you silly…front and back.  Think of it as your 80 year old grandmother giving you a childhood bath – it’s
     almost exactly the same type of situation.  The only difference is that, part-way through your scrub, she taps you
     on the shoulder and shows you some seriously nasty little rolls and flakes of skin that you didn’t think could come
     off.  You’ve never been more clean.

A few of my favorite spas in Los Angeles (if you’re outside of LA, just Google "Korean Spa" in your area – if you happen to have a significant Korean population near you, chances are you’ve got a GREAT spa that goes with them):

http://www.olympicspala.com (This was my first foray into the Korean Spa world – it will always be my first love!)
http://www.grandspala.com (This one is about a block from my house- convenience makes it soooo much more tempting!)
http://www.natura-spa.com (This is one of my next choices to visit – it’s a few blocks away from my house and the admission fee is $20, but it’s supposed to be even nicer than the ones I’ve been to)

**If you’re interested in what the spa experience is like, you can check out any of these websites.  Also, if you find one in your area, be sure to Google it and check for user reviews.  Often, other people who have been can give you the best advice for visiting a spa – the etiquette, etc.**

Okay, enough of the decadence for the outside.  Now for the inside:

 

Homemade Gourmet Marshmallows-

You can find recipes for them all over

the internet, but these little babies are so rich and delicious, and surprisingly easy to make! 

One of many Online Recipes (incidentally, the one I used)

3 packets of unflavored gelatin (usually a box contains 4)
1/2 c. cold water

Dump these in a large bowl together and let sit.  (If you have a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer, use it)

Meanwhile, line a 9 x 13 baking dish with saran wrap, spray with Pam and sprinkle with a 1:1 mixture of powdered sugar and cornstarch all over the bottom and sides.

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the following:

2 c. sugar (granulated)
2/3 c. corn syrup (light is best, or you end up with brown marshmallows)
1/4 c. water

Stir gently and place over medium-high heat.  Bring to a rapid boil and boil hard for about a minute to a minute-fifteen.  DO NOT OVERBOIL!!!

SLOWLY AND VERY CAREFULLY pour the boiled sugar (just as bad as boiled oil if you spill it on yourself, so patience and safety are the keys, here) into the bowl with the gelatin mixture.  Turn your mixer on a slow speed (you can use a hand mixer if you don’t have a stand one), and begin to mix the stuff together.  Keep it slow for a little while.  *Side note: if you have a whisk attachment for your mixer, use it – it’ll fluff the marshmallow better*  When the marshmallow begins to turn opaque, you can raise the speed a couple notches.  At this same time, add 1/4 t. salt.  After about 8-10 minutes, the marshmallow will be nice and fluffy and won’t really gain any more volume.  It is now that you add your flavoring.  The basic recipes call for 1 T. vanilla, but any desirable extract or liqueur (I prefer liqueur – a much better flavor) will work.  Mix again for about two more minutes, or until the flavoring is well-blended in.

Pour into the 9 x 13 dish, spread and sprinkle more of the powdered sugar mixture across the top of the marshmallow.  Spray another large sheet of saran wrap with Pam and cover (make sure it touches the marshmallow).  Let cool for at least 4 hours…no need to refrigerate.  Once cool, cut into fairly large squares and roll all sides in powdered sugar mixture, being sure to coat each marshmallow well.  Arrange on a pretty plate and amaze your friends with your incredibly "original" and homemade gourmet marshmallows!  Store in an air-tight container – keeps for up to 3 weeks.

**Just as you can substitute the liqueur for vanilla, try mixing cocoa with the powdered sugar for a chocolatey coating.  Also, try rolling them in granulated sugar instead of confectioners.  You can also add food colorings to the sugars (one or two drops for each half-pound of granulated sugar – combine in Ziploc bag and toss well to coat; one drop for each half-pound of powdered sugar – in blender put sugar, place finger hole in the middle, add food coloring and blend until evenly mixed – add more color as desired)  Have fun with it!!**