Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s a campfire, there are s’mores. On National S’mores Day, we celebrate the classic camper’s dessert.
S’mores traditionally take the form of a chocolate bar and fire-roasted marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers. One version involves microwaving the s’more for 10-15 seconds when no campfire is available. Really, any intense heat source will do as long as you don’t burn your hand or pollute your marshmallow with fumes. (Kerosene lamps are not recommended.) In a pinch you can make s’mores with a gas stove, the oven broiler, a candle, and many other ways, but nothing beats that bed of red hot coals.
According to the National Day Archives, the first s’mores recipe appears in Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts, a handbook published for the Girl Scouts in 1927. This interesting little piece of information reveals the fact that this treat had already been popular with both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for some time prior to this.
By 1968 the following recipe was provided: place a square of milk chocolate on a graham cracker, toast a marshmallow to golden perfection and place it gently on top of the chocolate, then place a second graham cracker on top of the toasted marshmallow and squeeze. The original name was “some mores,” as you could probably have guessed, but the name changed to “s’mores” sometime before 1974. Once this has been eaten, there’s no doubt that everyone will want “s’more”.
In answer to accusations that s’mores are extremely high in sugar and fat and are not particularly healthy for children or adults, the Outing Activities and Winter Sports Guide stated simply: “Camping trips are supposed to be fun. Why not relax, enjoy yourself, and have s’more?”
Fun facts about National S’mores Day!
- It’s easier to achieve a golden brown marshmallow over hot coals than over open flames because the coals are faster and more predictable.
- Nutella and fudge are common substitutes for chocolate bars.
- S’mores probably account for half of the 90 million pounds of marshmallows Americans buy each year.
- Metal rods cook marshmallows from the inside out, assuming the treat doesn’t slide off the end into the embers.
- It is estimated that 50 million pounds of marshmallows are toasted over a fire in American every year.
How to celebrate National S’mores Day:
Never tried them? Then S’mores Day is the perfect day to get started. And even for those people who have tried them, there is no reason to pass up the opportunity to enjoy them again! Gather your friends and eat s’mores. Build a fire in the backyard, take the grate off the grill, or just camp around the microwave to enjoy this toasty treat.
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