‘S’mores’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: S’mores Truffles

March 15, 2017 · Narrative

Delicious bite size sweet treats, with only five ingredients, these S’mores Truffles are sure to please.

A million years ago, when my ex-husband and I were dating, I had a truffle recipe in heavy rotation. I remember making it for his sister and his dad when we were deep in the throes of courtship. You know, that all important time when you feel the need to impress your significant other’s family. I made that recipe so many times over a period of a few years, sharing it also with friends and neighbors, that you’d think I would have committed it to memory.

Well, you’d be wrong. Very little then or now is ever committed to memory.

And over the years, and countless moves, I lost the recipe long ago.

A few weeks ago, I was watching an episode of Food Network’s, The Kitchen, and saw Sunny Anderson make an easy recipe for S’mores Truffles. The show’s theme for the day featured recipes that were five ingredients or less, and I made a mental note to make this one.

And after receiving a massive amount of snow this week (15″ in one day!), and being housebound since Monday, this week was the perfect time to try out the recipe.

Before Snowstorm Stella came, I made sure I had the ingredients for these truffles on hand, but the ingredients are basic enough that you might already have on hand. Although this is an easy recipe, because of the truffle chilling timing, it’s not something you can quickly whip up and enjoy soon after. But with a little bit of planning, you can be indulging your sweet tooth just a few hours later. Don’t let that deter you from making the truffles … I just usually miss the “chill for three hours,” and hate the surprise of missing instant gratification.

The recipe calls for nearly burning the marshmallows and, I’ve got to be honest, that was so hard for me to do. Because our inclination is to take them out and enjoy them when they’re in this stage, right?

And I did. And I picked a few off the end and popped them into my mouth (and have three blisters on my fingers to prove it). But I put them back in to give them another minute to get to the blacker stage the recipe called for. I *think* that is requested because it makes the marshmallows easier to crumble into the graham crackers, and it also gives the finished truffle the tiniest hint of campfire smokiness.

So, you know, follow the directions.

Truffles are in the fudge family, where a little bite goes a long way, so these are best enjoyed with several small nibbles. If you pop the whole thing in your mouth, you will no doubt proclaim them too sweet. Despite that, my snow shovelers popped several in their mouths when they came back from their hours of shoveling.

PS You can watch Sunny making the truffles right here.

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Recipe: S’mores Banana Boats

July 14, 2015 · Narrative

Simple, delicious, and summer memories all rolled into one. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and make S’mores Banana Boats.

As parents, we can get quickly caught up in grand gestures for our kids.

And when it comes right down to it, they don’t really care about any of that.

I have a friend who went with her family on a ten day trip to Alaska, including a seven day cruise. When they came back, I asked her son what his favorite part of the vacation was, and he responded, “The scrambled eggs at the Hilton.”

A hotel chain which we actually have a few miles away.

Kids and food are the same way.

They don’t care that I might take hours and hours to make an elaborate dessert that I think they’ll go crazy for.

Simple works just as well.

And so it was with these Banana Boats that we made over the weekend.

It requires little to no effort. Takes mere minutes to make. And they were completely and utterly enamored.

Isn’t that always the way?

I have a vague recollection of my Mom making these when I was a kid. You can *definitely* do them over a campfire, as is summer tradition, but if you’re like me and don’t camp, this is the next best thing.

Set up a toppings bar and have some friends over – everyone can mix and match toppings to make their own personalized banana boat and you have an easy Dessert Party with next to no work.

Delish.

Hungry for more s’mores inspiration?
These No Bake Oatmeal S’mores Cookies were a crowd favorite.
These Chocolate S’mores Cookies are not to be missed … especially if you’re lucky enough to have Joanne pipe some hearts on them.

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Recipe: No Bake Oatmeal S’mores Cookies {The S’mores Cookbook}

August 12, 2013 · Narrative

Both of the kids have a sweet tooth. Madeline’s is ridiculous, and she is forever looking for her next sweet fix. Nick’s isn’t quite as rampant, but he never turns down dessert after dinner, much like my Dad, just needing something small and sweet to finish off the night.

Both of the kids totally see dinner as a means to get dessert, and when they’re not feeling whatever I’m serving up, they always make sure to eat just enough to secure a sweet finish.

Nick is also a little bit of a s’mores addict. If there isn’t any dessert in the house, he can often be found making s’mores in the microwave for him and his sister, so when the new S’mores cookbook arrived last week, I knew it wouldn’t be long before we were baking from it.

I flipped through the pages, looking for something super easy and a recipe that I had all the ingredients for, and once I spied the No Bake S’mores Cookies, I didn’t need to look any further.

Regular readers know how much we love no bake cookies, and combining that with Nick’s obsession with s’mores? It’s pretty much a no brainer.

Taking less than thirty minutes from start to finish to make, the kids could barely wait for them to set before digging in. Besides the obvious toasted marshmallow on top, this is the first no bake recipe that I’ve seen that includes chocolate chips on the ingredient list (usually it’s just the cocoa powder). Either way, I bet you have all the ingredients in your pantry to make these on a whim … or when your cookie monsters are looking for their next fix.

I got 28 cookies out of the batch, and we kept some here, and quickly distributed a lot of them to friends and neighbors. And, of course, the next day, the kids were looking for more.

As far as the cookbook? I think it makes a nice addition to your collection. There is a picture of every recipe (love that!), and each recipe is super simple to make, using basic ingredients that are either already in your kitchen, or easy to find. There is a whole chapter dedicated to riffs on traditional s’mores, another one on breakfast s’mores that includes S’mores Danish and S’mores Stuffed French Toast, and countless other drool-worthy recipes like S’mores Layer Cake, Crustless S’mores Cheesecake, and S’mores Turnovers.

The author, Susan Whetzel, is a professional baker and popular food blogger, who can be found serving up more deliciousness on her web site, DoughMessTic.

Make ’em and share ’em. A perfect summer activity.

Hungry for more s’mores recipes?
This S’mores Nutella Pizza was a recent favorite during an at-home movie night.
S’mores were thoroughly enjoyed last summer with the crew from Hershey.
These Chocolate S’mores Cookies were perfect for a Valentine’s Day blogger meet up, especially when Joanne piped all the hearts on top. And, oh man, that frosting…
These S’mores Cookie Bars from two years ago were very kid-approved (and look! sunsets! my favorite!)

Tomorrow? July Instagram photo round-up.

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Summer, Swimming, and S’Mores

July 6, 2012 · Narrative

There are so many things to love about summer. Mostly, though, I love that our day-to-day living gets slightly more relaxed. Dinner time is less rigid. As is bedtime. And there is the teensiest bit of exhaling. Juggling summer camp and babysitter challenges notwithstanding, of course.

Because, man, that is totally not relaxing in the least.

But let’s all let out a deep breath and exhale. While we can.

One of our Summer Bucket List items was swimming lessons for Madeline. Over the last few years, as I’ve watched how she approaches water, it is much like her personality in general.

The last three times we went to Hershey Park, she stood on the side of the pool, at the five foot marker, and jumped in. Without waiting to make sure someone was there to catch her. Without looking around to see where I was. Without hesitation.

That’s exactly how she approaches life. Dives.right.in.

And that’s exactly why she’s in swimming lessons. Because she’s going to give me a heart attack without them.

Her brother, Nick, and his approach to water and life, is completely different. He’ll hang on to me until the very last second. Look all around. Go over the scenario in his mind. Ask questions. Look for reassurances. And then slightly edge his way towards the water.

Much how he is with life in general.

Over the past few years, he has definitely spread his wings a bit more. Diving from The Ex’s hands into the lake. Soaring deep down to the sandy bottom to look for shells. Holding his breath under water. (The below sequence is Nick swimming under water)

One of them is completely fearless with everything. The other is much more cautious.

It always fascinates me how different siblings can be from each other. Two kids, raised under the same household, same parents, same rules. Could not be more different. It’s the same way with my sister and I. And I’m sure many of you.

If summer time means swimming, it also means s’mores. Nick had a scout sleepover a few weeks ago, and s’mores at the campfire were a given. And Madeline had her first camp sleepover too (tagging along for Nick’s outing). I do believe she was most excited about peeing in the woods. And if you know her in real life, you’re not surprised by this. Talk about embracing life.

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Hershey Giveaway & My Favorite S’Mores Face

August 5, 2011 · Ad-Free, Narrative

When Nick woke up this morning, on his last day of summer camp, he came into my bedroom and asked if his outfit was ok.

He was wearing his s’more shirt (courtesy of Grandma and J. Crew’s Crew Cuts, btw).

To say this kid is in tune with what is going on would be an understatement. I have long since believed he has had a sixth sense, but that’s a story for another time.

Today was my deadline for posting about s’mores for the gang at Hershey.

And Nick started his day with his s’mores shirt.

I hadn’t said a word previously.

Totally ‘n sync.

And not referring to the hotness that is Justin Timberlake and his old boy band.

My “surprise” topic from Hershey was to show you my “favorite s’mores face.”

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On Dating, Figurative Fires and S’mores

June 20, 2011 · Narrative

Apparently I have a thing for firefighters. It doesn’t have anything to do with the uniform. Really. Although that certainly doesn’t hurt. Hello Backdraft anyone? Though The Ex was not a firefighter when we met and dated, he joined the department after we got engaged. It turns out that Mystic was a firefighter too. Of course, I didn’t know that when we first met a few months ago, but judging by our time together so far, it seems his background could come in handy. Figuratively, of course.

We (and by we, I mean I) like to call it the O’Malley Trial by Fire. You know, like the initiation process when you date me. It’s like freshmen hazing rituals. Only way more fun. At least that’s what I tell him. In the short time since we started dating, he has dealt with the after affects of the Great Power Outage of ’11. You know, when a surge went through the house and torched my computer, printer, fax, house phones, microwave, tv, a portion of the hot water heater and goodness knows what else in its wake. He actually started hanging out with me just in time to deal with the aftermath. Like when I got all new stuff and had to figure it all out. I don’t do manuals. Or technology. Thank goodness he does.

And then there was the ankle sprain. My left ankle is still a good bit bigger than the size of my right. And I’m still hobbling around on it.

And the diagnosis of our beloved Eli.

And a cat missing for two days.

And my trip to Seattle.

And Atlanta.

And oh yes, there was this water incident the week before last. As I tried to run through all the people who I thought could help me at the time, when two buckets of water was steadily pouring through my living room ceiling, and who might be home, and who were boys, Mystic was the second person I called. I tried to hold the phone to my ear, as I was holding the buckets, attempting to catch the water and keep it from going into the tv on the way down.

” Are you ok? “

No, are you nearby?

“No, what’s the matter?”

Ok, gotta go. I didn’t mean to hang up on him, but the water that was pouring down my head slipped the phone from my grasp. There’s only so much multi-tasking a girl can do. He was there within half an hour. Just slightly behind The Neighbor Wife who had the misfortune of calling me during the whole event. Both were total troopers. Who were repaid with spaghetti and garlic bread. That’s how I roll.

There was, ahem, another minor incident two weeks ago that I proudly handled myself. Well, ok, it might have involved the boys in blue, but I didn’t call anyone else for help. Swear.

Later that week when I told Mystic that I thought it had been a bit of an action-packed few months, he asked how he was doing.

“Well, you haven’t run from the burning building yet, so I think that’s good.”

So far.

“Oh I see. I’m on PROBATION?”

He wisely didn’t answer.

“I’d like to think I’m bringing happy chaos to the table. I’m just trying to keep things interesting.”

You’re doing an excellent job. Maybe I should try harder from my side?

“Try harder for what?”

To keep things interesting too.

I then politely explained that perhaps he could just balance out my crazy and not bring his own. You know, ying to my yang or something. Thank God he was ok with that.

Speaking of fire… nothing like summertime and camp fires to make me think of s’mores. How ya like that segueway?…

Recipes: Retro Desserts {S’mores and Tomato Soup Cake}

May 25, 2010 · Narrative

Do you think it’s crazy that I’ve only had s’mores maybe twice in my life? Or that I’ve never even made them before? It seems like one of those classic things I should have been all over. But I’ve never been camping. Don’t really care for graham crackers. Or marshmallows most times. So knowing all that, I guess it’s a wonder I’ve had them at all!

Last week, I happened to spy a recipe for a microwave version of s’mores and tore it out. I thought it would be a fun thing for the kids. With Nick in Boy Scouts, he’s had them plenty of times. Madeline, not yet. We had company for dinner tonight (one of three dinners planned for this week), and with s’mores being so kid-friendly, I added them to dessert.

I felt like s’mores weren’t enough for dessert (something that’s always a problem with me and menu planning) and I needed to add something a little more adult-friendly too. I knew our guests liked Tomato Soup Cake with Toasted Walnut and Cream Cheese Frosting, so I made that as well. It’s a very retro, 1950’s-style dessert, much in the same vein as s’mores, so a random theme quickly emerged. There’s something very comforting about going back to basics. To the old-fashioned treats that our parents and grandparents grew up with. To a recipe that has spanned the generations, yet still remains just as relevant today as it was back then.

Project 365
May 25, 2010, Photo #101

Given tonight’s old school theme, it seems only natural that this be the photo of the day today. Nick came home with one of these from school; apparently the kids were spending time at recess making them. Remember these? I’ve chosen every square with him since he came home, revealing every possible scenario. Luckily for me, he said his teacher checked them all and made sure that the kids only wrote down “good things.” The first thing I landed on was “you’ll get married at age 90.” Wonderful. Considering at this point, I have less than zero interest in getting married again, I’ll take it.

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