The "S'more Splendide" (Photo by Foodista) In honor of National S'mores Day (August 10th -- so you had the whole weekend to perfect the craft), I went looking for tips, tricks, and instructions to share about making the most delicious of simple summer desserts. But in the process of digging around online for the perfect recipe, I found there’s not much to learn about the humble s'more; rather, I discovered something about myself: I'm a purist. Forget those sites that list multiple recipes and variations on s’mores. You don’t need them and you can’t improve on perfection. Caramel apple s'mores? Sounds like a mess. Chocolate peanut butter s'mores? Save the PB for your J. There’s only one way to make a s'more: with waxy Hershey's chocolate on Honey Maid graham crackers, squished around a jet-puffed marshmallow that was toasted slowly to golden-brown perfection over the lingering coals of an open campfire. Just the description makes you want some more, yes? I'll admit that I once went through a "gourmet s'more" phase. (I wasn't a kid anymore, after all ...) I’d buy those Lu shortbread cookies, place squares of dark chocolate on top, set them just at the edge of the fire so the chocolate would soften while I toasted my marshmallow, and then sandwich the whole thing together in defiance of almost a century of s'more-making wisdom. Was it a gooey delicious treat? Yes. Did it feel right? Not really ... Over the years, many have tried to tame the wild s'more. Wikipedia mentions s'mores kits people can use on the kitchen tabletop. Indeed, the "Cosi" restaurant chain offers diners the chance to order a fondue-style s'mores dessert to toast right at the table. Hershey's, undisputed king of the s'mores chocolate market, went so far as to market a S'mores candy bar. Some heretics have even advocated microwaving s'mores or making them with (I shudder to even write this) marshmallow cream. There's no way around saying this -- the traditional s'more has been under attack. But far from the threat of these urban offenses, the mighty s'more thrives in its natural habitat. The marshmallow bronzes and puffs over the fire with pride at the end of a careful skewer, melting toward its destiny as the heart of the forest's favorite sandwich. Suggested Sites... Smores - who knew three simple ingredients had such a cultural impact? How to Make Smores - really, do you need a recipe? Food Network: Smores - variations on a theme. Solar S'mores - the dessert goes green. How to Make S'meeps - the protean Peep meets graham crackers and chocolate.

Directory categories: Chocolate, Chocolate Recipes, Desserts and Sweets, Campfire Activities, Camping

Archived under: Camping, Candy, Celebrations, Cookies, Cooking, Desserts, Eating, Fire, Food and Drink, Hershey, Homemade, In Character, Outdoors, Recipes, Snacks

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