I am not an avid camper, in fact, there are only few things about this recreational activity that appeal to me. The first is enjoying time in the outdoors (but I prefer being able to sleep in the comfort of a bed and having indoor plumbing); the second, cooking over an open flame (but then again, I can do that over the flame on my grill or gas stove); and the third is the simply sensational dessert that is a must around the campfire, s’mores. Its amazing how 3 simple ingredients can generate smiles more radiant than the embers over which these treats are made. We all look forward to that time of night when everyone gathers around the bonfire with twig in hand ready to toast off a marshmallow and then sandwich it with chocolate between two graham crackers. Looking up at a night sky full of stars and biting into the campfire classic you could almost swear you’re in heaven.
S’mores, a contraction of the phrase “some more”, seem to have first made their appearance in the late 1920’s, where the first recorded version of the recipe was found in the publication “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts”. The clever little scout who came up with this tasty snack clearly earned her dessert badge.
I’m sure there are many of us who smile when we recall a summertime s’more moment and they aren’t even necessarily related to a campfire. I actually remember an afternoon spent with family and we recreated the dessert at home, toasting the marshmallows over the burner on the stove. Who says s’mores have to be reserved for the campfire? The same ingredients can all be assembled in foil and placed on the grill during your next barbeque or even in the toaster oven if you really start salivating for a s’more.
There are several variations that can be made on this classic and I have experimented with many which have included pancakes, cupcakes, strudel, cheesecake, donuts and even tiramisu. I have also Italianized the dessert if you will by sandwiching toasted marshmallows between pizzelle cookies and using chocolate hazelnut spread, and I’m certain that my love for this trio of ingredients will have me coming up with a bunch s’more.
