Good morning, welcome back to our series sharing Food Holidays: August 10th, 2021. Take a look at the Holidays being celebrated today and le me know if you would like to celebrate it or not.
Did you know today s National S’mores Day? Charlie and I plan on getting out our Fire Pit. Then making S’mores on it. Cooking over the Fire Pit making S’mores is what Charlie will be cooking in Charlie’s Homeschool Cooking Class. I can’t wait to see how Charlie does.
If you like S’mores would you like to join us. Charlie loves S’mores and David likes S’mores as well. I don’t care for them because I don’t like Marshmallows. David is working this evening Charlie doesn’t have anyone to help him eat the S’mores.
Graham crackers, melted Chocolate and sticky toasted Marshmallows, all in one little sandwich— if these can’t get people licking their chops (and their fingers!), what can?
S’mores are of the most popular North American desserts and they’re the quintessential Campfire treat. In fact it is estimated that over 50 million pounds of Marshmallows are toasted over a fire in North America each year!
Never tried S’mores? Then S’mores Day is the perfect day to get started. Even for those people who have tried S’mores, there is no reason to pass up the opportunity to enjoy them again! It’s time to get started on S’mores Day!
History of S’mores Day
S’more might sound like it was named after a person or the City where the snack began. Many people might think the names means something special, but it really doesn’t! It’s actually the combination of the two words in the phrase “some more”, which is not strange considering how tasty S’mores are.
The first S’more recipe can be found in a book full of recipes that was published in the book “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts” by the Campfire Marshmallows company in the early 1920s. This interesting little piece of information reveals the fact that this treat had already been popular with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for some time.
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. Once this S’more 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?”
S’mores Day was created several years ago to celebrate this gooey delight, and is sponsored by the National Confectioners Association.
How to Celebrate S’mores Day
Celebrating S’mores Day can be super simple–it just requires a few ingredients and a few friends! Try these ideas for celebrating S’mores Day:
Make and Eat S’mores
What could be a better way to celebrate S’mores Day than enjoying this treat? It’s better to make your own S’mores which are incredibly simple to make.
Of course it would be best to make S’mores around a campfire in the woods while telling ghost stories like the treat’s creators did almost 100 years ago, so those who are planning a Camping Trip in the near future might want to leave the making of S’mores for then.
Try Different S’mores Variations
S’mores are absolutely delicious on their own, and it’s also possible to get creative with S’mores by using different ingredients. Usually the basic S’more recipe stays the same and something extra special is added. Try these unique ideas:
- Peanut Butter S’mores. What can’t be made better with Peanut Butter? Just smear a layer of yummy Peanut Butter on the Graham Cracker prior to making up the treat.
- Banana S’mores. Add a bit of Fruit to the mix by placing Banana slices on the Graham Crackers when building the snack.
- Peanut Butter Cup S’mores. Take it to another level using Peanut Butter Cups (Reese’s Brand works great) as a substitute for the standard Chocolate.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie S’mores. Instead of Graham Crackers, try using Chocolate Chip cookies as the base of this snack.
Create S’mores Inspired Culinary Treats
Who needs a Campfire to channel the vibes that S’mores bring? It’s possible to create all kinds of desserts in the kitchen that bring the flavor of this delicious snack.
- S’mores Creme Brulee. Rustic Camping meets a fancy restaurant in this decadent dessert. Creme Brulee is made with a combination of Sugar, Cream and Eggs that take on a carmely flavor and texture, then add the Chocolate, Marshmallows and Graham Cracker Crumbs to finish it off.
- S’mores Milkshake. Pile Vanilla Ice Cream and Milk into the blender, then add Chocolate Syrup, Marshmallow Creme, and Graham Cracker Crumbs. A delicious, drinkable take on this treat.
- S’mores Cheesecake. Cheesecake begins with a Graham Cracker Crust, it only makes sense to add in the Marshmallow and Chocolate flavors to go along with the theme!
- S’mores Bars. Bring the flavor of this favorite to a gathering by making these bars that can feed a group. It’s simple to make this recipe with a Graham Cracker and Butter Crust, then Melt Chocolate Chips and Marshmallows over the top for a few minutes in the oven. Easy Peasy S’mores!
Make S’mores At Home
For those who are not planning on going to be Camping anytime soon, however, there’s no reason not to make S’mores in the comfort of home. It might even be fun to roast Marshmallows over the flames of your gas stove or a candle, if all else fails and you want Fire-roasted Marshmallows!
Ingredients:
- 32 miniature Graham Crackers or 8 regular size Graham Crackers, broken in half
- 2 Milk Chocolate Bars, the kind that can be broken into squares (Hershey’s brand is traditional and melts well)
- 8 Marshmallows
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Lay 1/2 of the Graham Crackers on a cookie sheet. Top with Chocolate pieces to cover.
- Use kitchen scissors to snip the Marshmallows in 1/2 horizontally if using miniature Crackers and place 1/2 a Marshmallow on top of each Graham Cracker. If using regular Crackers, it’s probably better to use a whole Marshmallow.
- Bake until the Marshmallows are puffed and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and top with the remaining Graham Crackers, pressing down slightly to make a sandwich.
- Serve immediately, while still warm.
For those who are making S’mores by a real Campfire, simply toast the Marshmallows of the flames first and then put them on the Crackers, add a piece of Chocolate and top with another Cracker. It’s important to use Chocolate that melts well from the heat of the Marshmallow, so Milk Chocolate is likely to be the best choice thanks to its high Cocoa Butter content.
Enjoy have S’more!
Facts About Chocolate, Graham Crackers, and Marshmallows:
- The Hershey Company makes more than 373 million HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate bars a year. That’s enough to make 746 million S’mores!
- HONEY MAID Graham Crackers were introduced in 1925 and are the leading brand of Graham Crackers in the U.S.
- Every HONEY MAID Graham Cracker is made with the goodness of 5 grams of Whole Grain per serving and real Honey.
- Americans buy around 90 million pounds of Marshmallows every year.
- Did you know? S’mores were ‘invented’ by the Girl Scouts. I didn’t know that.
In our opinion, this is one of the best parts of Summer or any time of year where you like to indulge in an Ice Cream treat! Banana Split Day blends the perfect flavor of Bananas with the sweet flavor of the Ice Cream, topped with Whipped Cream, Maraschino Cherries, Strawberries, Hot Fudge, and anything else your heart can imagine! Banana Split Day celebrates this amazing treat and its a perfect excuse to indulge in Ice Cream!
Learn about Banana Split Day
Banana Split Day is exactly what you expect to be: its a day to celebrate this amazing dessert. Giving you the perfect opportunity to tuck into this sweet treat. After all, who doesn’t love a delicious Banana Split? You can enjoy one of these desserts (or several) and you don’t need to feel guilty about it! It’s music to our ears. Have fun trying out your own Banana Split inventions.
Fun facts about Banana Splits
Did you know that there was a World Record set in Selinsgrove, PA, for the longest Banana Split? This stretched 4.5 miles, and consisted of 33,000 Bananas, as well as 150 gallons of Chocolate and 2,500 gallons of Ice Cream.
The popularity of the Banana Split is often credited to Walgreens drug stores, which are operated by Charles Rudolph Walgreens. Walgrens promoted the Banana Split as their premium dessert, which caused a lot of customers to try the Banana Split when they may have otherwise not been interested in Banana Splits.
When Banana Splits first came onto the scene, they were sold for 10 cents. This may not seem like a lot of money but however, at the time, Banana Splits were sold at twice the price of sundaes.
Health benefits of bananas
While Bananas may be covered in Cream and a few other bad things when enjoyed as a Banana Split, Bananas themselves offer a number of different health benefits. This can make you feel better about eating a Banana Split! Bananas, for example, are an excellent source of Vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6, in turn, provides a number of great benefits. Which helps us to maintain a healthy nervous system, remove unwanted chemicals from your Kidneys and Liver, Metabolize Amino Acids, Metabolize Fats and Carbohydrates, turning them into Energy, and produce Red Blood Cells.
The good news doesn’t end there. There are a number of other benefits that are associated with Bananas. This includes Potassium, which meets around 10 percent of your Potassium intake. Bananas also contains Manganese, which helps to protect your skin through the creation of Collagen, as well as protecting other Cells from free radical damage.
Bananas are also a great source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C supports Brain Health through the production of Serotonin, which impacts our moods, sleep cycle, and experiences of pain and stress. Vitamin C helps your body produce Collagen, absorb Iron better, and protect your body against Tissue and Cell damage.
History of Banana Split Day
The Banana Split, , has a very definite History, and we can pinpoint its origins to one David Evans Stickler in 1904, where he was serving as an apprentice pharmacist at Tassel Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Like most pharmacies of the day, it had a Soda Fountain attached, and it was in this pharmacy that he invented the Banana Split, which quickly became a hit with the students at Saint Vincent College nearby. Word of mouth made it spread like wildfire, and it soon became an American Institution, before going global.
In 2004 Latrobe hosted the 100th Anniversary of the invention, the same year that it was certified as the birthplace of the Banana Split by NICRA (National Ice Cream Retailers Association). It also became the home of the Great American Banana Split Celebration, a huge event with food and events for everyone to take part in.
Of course, like with all great inventions, there is some contention about its Origins (unless you ask NICRA). Wilmington, Ohio claims that it was invented there in 1907 in response to a slump in the Ice Cream Business thanks to the Winter season.
How to celebrate Banana Split Day
Like we need to tell you how to celebrate Banana Split Day! Grab yourself an entire bushel of Bananas, split them and circle a bowl with them, and fill that puppy with Ice Cream! Top with Whipped Cream, Nuts, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Syrup, and anything else you can imagine. Sprinkle liberally with Maraschino Cherries.
A bit much? Alright, if you’re going to keep this deliciousness to yourself, maybe what you need is to enjoy the Banana Split quietly at home. But for a special twist drizzle the Banana Split with a high proof Alcohol and ignite it, because hot and cold are great companions.
Another fun way to celebrate Banana Split Day is by gathering your loved ones and having a “Banana Split Off.” You can all have fun creating different takes on this dessert. Make sure you have a range of different toppings available and allow people to go wild creating there Banana Split. This is a great way to spend time with the people you love. After all, it is always fun to do something different, isn’t it?
Five facts to know about Banana Splits
- The Banana Split was invented in 1904 at Strickler’s Drug Store in Pennsylvania.
- A Banana Split starts with a Banana split lengthwise, topped with scoops of Ice Cream, assorted Syrups and finally Whipped Cream and a Maraschino Cherry.
- A Banana Split is an Ice Cream-based dessert. In its classic form it is served in a long dish called a boat.
- A Banana is cut in half lengthwise (hence the split) and laid in the dish.
- There are many variations, but the classic Banana Split is made with scoops of Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry Ice Cream served in a row between the split Banana.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
