National S'more Day

Yesterday, August 10 was National S'more Day. I intended to write this blog earlier - but we should be able to enjoy S'mores any day, not just on August 10, right? The crispy graham cracker + gooey marshmallows + melty chocolate is a favorite everyone loves. S'mores have been enjoyed since around the turn of the 20th century, when commercial marshmallows were becoming more available. It is assumed that s'mores were invented by campers, and have long time been a campfire favorite. The traditional method is to toast a marshmallow over a campfire, then sandwich it between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate.
That's still a popular way, but you don't have to camp to enjoy s'mores (thank goodness!). Before we had kids, we ate like kids, and hot dogs and s'mores were Sunday evening supper. The microwave makes it easy to combine and heat the marshmallow-chocolate-graham combination without charring it. Those with gas ranges sometimes use the flame of the burner to toast the marshmallow. I've even seen 's'more kits' in stores with a small heat source for tabletop prep. We had an enjoyable evening with the Texas niece toasting marshmallows over their backyard fire-pit and making s'mores with gourmet chocolate bars. Today one of our treats is a type of s'more made with graham crackers, marshmallow fluff spread and Nutella spread.

If I do go camping, here is a version I want to try, called Campfire Cones.
Campfire Cones (need sugar ice cream type cones, peanut butter, chocolate chips, mini-marshmallows, bananas, foil)
Chop bananas (kids can do this with a plastic knife). Spread peanut butter inside the cone, put in bananas, chocolate chips and marshmallows. Wrap in foil and put over the hot coals for 5 - 10 minutes, turning a couple of times. Unwrap and enjoy.

Here's another recipe that I'm saving for the holidays... (from cookingclassy.blogspot.com)
S'more Bites - with a Kiss  (makes 12)
6 graham cracker sheets (let them sit out opened for a few days to make them softer)
or 12 Ritz crackers
6 large marshmallows
12 Hershey's Kisses or Rolos, unwrapped
Break the graham cracker sheets in half, and cut into a circle about 2 1/2-inches with a metal cookie cutter (easier if they are softer and less likely to break). Cut each marshmallow into 2 halves. Heat oven to low broil and place oven rack two levels below broiler. Place graham circles in center of cookie sheet and top each with a marshmallow with the cut side down. Place under the broiler for a very short time - watch closely! Once the marshmallows are golden, remove from the oven and top with a Kiss or Rolo in the center of each toasted marshmallow and gently press down. Serve warm.