I will be admit I am a bit addicted to parties, events,picnics, gatherings, dinner parties you name it.  I love planning them, seeing the smiling faces, watching people's eyes light up and most of all eating at them.  It is kind of funny considering after the planning, setup, food preparation, etc. I am pretty wiped and actually don't mind sitting back and just watching it all happen while silently sipping my drink, stabbing at my tomato or burning my marshmallow.

 The introvert in me likes the behind the scenes, get it all accomplished feeling and then observe from afar.  I think that is why I have fallen in love with photography.  I can have my eye behind the camera taking in all four corners of the little square and loving the moment. Sometimes the moment is captured just right and sometimes it is just fluff like a marshmallow.  But unlike a photograph where once captured you keep it, learn from it or edit it just the right way the marshmallow adapts to what we want from it.

A little burnt no problem it melts the chocolate.  A little gooey no worries now we will have great rice krispy treats. So when I knew I could not have a fire at our party for s'mores I asked the marshmallow "How do we adapt?"

 It was a Carnival-Circus theme Picnic so Pinterest being the party lifesaver of ideas, gave me the strong man barbell idea and my mallows adapted by becoming Strong Man S'mores.

 Having once attempted in the past to make my own marshmallows and failing miserably I decided to try again.  Success!

 Ina Garten did not fail me and her recipe and video for marshmallows gave me the courage to continue on with my idea.  If you decide you just want s'mores on a stick this will also work.  Until the next bonfire that is when the leftover marshmallows will get eaten.🔥😋

Marshmallows: Recipe credit Ina Garten

Ingredients

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin

• 1/2 cup cold water

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup water
  1 cup light corn syrup

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Chocolate and Grahams

8 oz of dark chocolate chopped

1 small package of crushed graham crackers 

Instructions:

Step 1

Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup cold ice water into a small bowl and allow to sit for about 10 minutes while it gels.  Cold water is needed for the chemical reaction.

Step 2

In a small sauce pan combine the granulated sugar, water, light corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water and cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.  Raise the heat to high and cook until on a candy thermometer the mixture registers 240 ° F  Remove from the heat.

Step 3

Place the dissolved gelatin mixture into your electric mixer's bowl and attach whisk.  On slow speed to prevent splashing of hot syrup  slowly add sugar syrup into the gelatin.  After combining increase speed to high and whip until the mixture is very thick about 15 minutes. (I set a timer) Add the vanilla and mix in until blended. Maybe 30 seconds.

Step 4

While whisking with your electric mixer, using a sieve dust an 8x12 pan non-metal pan with confectioners sugar aka: powdered sugar. Dust thoroughly. When marshmallow batter is done whisking pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan and then dust all over again with powdered sugar.  Allow to rest without covering overnight until it dries out.

FYI: This might me a little messy at this point and you will not be able to get all of the marshmallow out of the bowl.

Step 5:

Day two or 8-10 hours later; Cut around the pan with a knife and dump the marshmallows onto a cutting board.  I like to place the board over the pan and then holding both flip together.

Step 6:

Now comes the fun part!  Using the smallest biscuit cutting ring you have cut the round circles out of the marshmallow to make the dumbbell ends.  Do not throw away the leftover marshmallow cuttings! (See tips below)

Step 7

Using a straw that has been cut in half stick one marshmallow on either end. You are ready for the chocolate.

Step 8

Place crushed graham crackers in a bowl ready for dipping.

Step 9

Using a saute pan with high edges and a metal bowl that will sit inside fill the saute pan half full with water and place over medium heat.  Place chopped chocolate in the bowl and allow to melt.  Having your marshmallow dumbbells ready dip each bottom of the marshmallow then roll the dumbbell in the melted chocolate.

Step 10

Allow chocolate to drip off and then place ends of each marshmallow lightly into crushed graham crackers

Step 11

Allow bells to rest overnight or at least until chocolate hardens.  Cover and bring to your party!

Tips

• Freeze leftover edges of marshmallow in a ziploc for later roasting or making small mini marshmallows for hot chocolate.

• Crush graham crackers by placing in a ziploc bag and smashing with a mallet.

• Trader Joe's Dark Belgian Chocolate is my favorite! Comes in a pound

• Never underestimate the power of s'mores😋

Love hearing your s'mores stories and ideas.  How do you adapt s'mores if you can't have a fire?  Or what are your favorite gourmet s'mores?  Do you hate or love marshmallows?  Why?  Please share your stories, anecdotes or ideas with me in the comments below!

Or if you just want to share this post please do so!  And don't forget to have a great summer!😎