Posts Tagged "chocolate"

American Appreciation-Smores

Posted by cafebebemama on Aug 3, 2010 in American Mum Me, Motherhood | 7 comments

Smores- So Good You'll Want Some More!

Smores are an American creation involving biscuits, marshmallows and chocolate. Generally, smore making occurs around a campfire in the summertime but it can also take place around a grill in the back garden or maybe even over a gas flame in the kitchen! (Haven’t tried that one…please report back to me if you attempt this but don’t blame me if it goes horribly wrong.) The traditional American ingredients are:

Honey Maid Graham Crackers

Hershey's Milk Chocolate

Marshmallows

Smores remind me of my childhood and summers at Sand Lake, Wisconsin, USA. We would start the fire after dinner and let it burn down until there were only embers. My Dad would cut branches from small trees on our land (they need to be GREEN branches so they don’t burn during the roasting process) and whittle the tip to a point. We’d then find our perfect place in the fire…not too hot, not too cold, not to flamey! The best was when you found a bit of rock or log that you could rest your stick on so you could rotate it in a controlled fashion for optimum roasting perfection. When you see a teeny bit of smoke coming off the marshmallow, pull it back or you’ll end up with charred marshmallows! You’re aiming for a warm, brown colour around the whole of the marshmallow. This is tricky…especially getting the sides properly toasted. When you can master this, you have arrived!

Now, for the assembly of the smore! It’s best to lay out the biscuits and chocolate in preparation for the marshmallow because you don’t want to be pfaffing about with a nice, toasty marshmallow that’s rapidly cooling. Set the following on a plate: 2 biscuits next to each other and your chocolate of choice sitting neatly on one of the biscuits, as much in the middle as possible. As we’re in England you can feel free to substitute Digestive or Rich Tea biscuits for Graham Crackers and pick your favourite sort of chocolate. If you’re feeling very luxurious and lazy you could even opt for a chocolate covered Digestive in addition to your chosen chocolate.

Roast your marshmallow as per the instructions above. You’re aiming for perfectly brown and toasty, remember! Unless you like carbon or are carbon deficient in your diet. Once your marshmallow is toasted, turn to your prepared biscuits, rest the marshmallow-still on the stick- on the biscuit with the chocolate and with the other biscuit, make a sandwich and gently extract the stick from the marshmallow leaving the gooey goodness snuggled between the biscuits and chocolate. Let the warm marshmallow do its work for a few minutes…it will melt the chocolate a bit which makes it that much more indulgent to bite into.

And then it’s time for the pleasure of a smore. Bite into its sticky, messy, delightfully childish splendor. You’ll end up with marshmallow everywhere (it is rather glue like) but it’s so worth it! This is part of why roasting, assembling and eating smores is best done in the outdoors. It’s a bit messy! If you have a child who’s old enough and can be trusted with a sharp stick, an open flame and molten hot marshmallow, have them do the roasting and assembling and you can enjoy the fruits of their labour. Wipes will definitely come in handy. When the roasting has come to an end simply throw the sticks on the fire and your mess is taken care of. Adult indulgence in a children’s treat! Glorious!

If you’d rather not have a smore in the traditional sense, you can skip the biscuits but still enjoy the marshmallowey goodness by roasting your marshmallow as above and then when roasted, gently remove the marshmallow from the stick. Usually, if roasted properly, the top layer of the marshmallow will pull right off leaving a perfect cavity to pop a bit of chocolate in and then place the whole thing in your mouth. You’re left with the “guts” of the marshmallow on your stick which you can roast again and polish off, straight off the stick (mind…it can be very hot). Not quite as calorific but still scrummy!

I hope you’ll try Smores at your next barbecue or camp fire and think of me and America when you do so! We have a few traditions that are rather delightful. I’d like to think that Smores will become just as popular in your family as they were in ours. Give them a go…what have you got to lose? One word of advice, however: when you are sourcing your marshmallows here in the UK, stay away from marshmallows that have a sugar or candy coating. They just don’t roast or puff up properly and end up burning which takes away all of the fun. Plain, old white marshmallows! Good luck! Please report back on your success or failure and feel free to share any pictures!

Hubby & his Nephews practising their roasting- Summer 2007

Green & Blacks Chocolate- A Vlog Review

Posted by cafebebemama on Feb 23, 2010 in Great Finds, Product Reviews, Treats to Eat, Vlog Posts | 2 comments

Green & Blacks chocolate

A few weeks ago a delivery came from an angel the postman.  He brought me 8 bars of glorious Green & Black’s Chocolate.  I carefully opened the padded envelope and gingerly laid out the bars of liquid gold.  Harps were tinking in the distance.  I knew that my hubby, a definite chocoholic, was going to be most pleased with my acquisition.  The lovely angels at Green & Black’s have been reaching out to parent bloggers in an effort to educate us about quality chocolate and all that comes with it.  I was more than happy to accomodate Green & Black’s.  What follows is a vlogging review of my Green & Blacks experience.  I highly recommend sampling 8 bars a bar of Green & Black’s as soon as possible…you don’t know what you’re missing!

The process of tasting a Green & Black’s chocolate bar is rather involved but extremely satisfying.  Try it for your next dinner party.  Your guests will not be disappointed.  I can assure you that neither my husband nor I was disappointed with our glorious Green & Black’s chocolate bars.  I’ve earned a few brownie points now, in fact!

Big Adventures for Little Miss

Posted by cafebebemama on Nov 17, 2009 in Little Miss Adventures, Travelling Adventures, Writing Workshop | 12 comments

Ooh, I’m a little bit excited!  Mummy told me that we’re going to the London Zoo again!  She mentioned something about meeting some other Mummies there.  What was that word again?  Bloggers?  Boogers?  Not sure…but they’re just like Mummy.  They sit at the computer a lot.  Mummy told Daddy that he was coming too.  He wasn’t too sure about it and had a rather funny expression on his face but Mummy said!  She has to remind him about things a lot…he forgets.  I think he might forget on purpose but what do I know?  I’m not even 2 years old!  I forget a lot too!  I never forget when I’ve done a poo though.  I tell Mummy about that!

So, the last time we went to the London Zoo I was with my best friend.  Mummy had everything we needed, or so she said.  But I think she forgot a few things.  So, this time, I’m bringing my own bag.  My Trunki.  I’ll have Daddy put it in the boot.  Daddy says we’re driving down to the London Zoo this time.  No trains.  That makes me a little bit sad but Mummy sure does huff and puff a lot when we take the train and it’s not very fun bumping up and down the steps in my pushchair, so maybe this is a better plan.  Here’s what I need to bring with me on our trip to the London Zoo…I hope Mummy can read my writing!  Maybe if I get someone to email it to her, then we’ll be ok?!

• A bottle of Milton sterilising solution to clean the baby changing area in the London Zoo toilet- ewww, not pretty.
• My Little Life backpack so I don’t have to stay in the pushchair all the LIVE LONG DAY!  I need my freedom!
• Food to feed to the penguins!  They are really funny and seem to like fish which I don’t like so I can give them some of mine.
• My “In the Night Garden” figurines.  I think they really want to meet the gorillas since I told them how cool they were so we’ll bring them along this time.
• 2 Changes of clothes- last time we were there I got a bit wet thanks to the rubbish nappies I was wearing (not name brand mind you…bargain basement is NOT the way to go).  I like to be fashionable and warm so I would prefer to have a few options in case I spill or those monkeys get too close.
• Baby- now that Teeny Tiny Tears (aka Baby) has a proper hole in her mouth, she deserves a proper outing into the big wide world.  She really likes watching The WotWots with me in the morning so I think she’d like to see animals up close and personal.
• Good Dancing Music- why do we have to listen to Radio 2 in the car Mummy?  I like to kick it…you know that!  How about some Black Eyed Peas or something?  Michael Bublé will do in a pinch but come on Mummy, you’re not Nanny & Grandad’s age!  Just give Radio 1 a chance.  Chris Moyles isn’t THAT annoying!
• CHOCOLATE- Mummy, I’m 17 months old.  You NEVER, EVER let me have chocolate!  My best friends get to have chocolate!  Buttons, bars…the lot!  I will be really good!  I promise.  Eating good things all of the time is not very fun.  I know I’m nice and healthy and strong and fit but come on Mummy!  Lighten up!

I think that will just about cover it Mummy.  And you can bring your usual Changing Bag Which Contains the World and we’ll all feel better for that!  Thanks Mummy…I’m really looking forward to going to the London Zoo again in two weeks.  I know you’re going to be meeting some of those other BMB Mummies but let’s make sure to get to see all of the animals this time Mummy.  Last time we missed a whole bunch.  Oh, and just so you know…I really love spending time with just you and Daddy.  You’re pretty good fun and you sure do love me a lot and you know what…I LOVE YOU TOO.  Thanks Mummy…you’re not so bad at this Mummy stuff.

Another Wednesday Writing Workshop Entry for the lovely Josie at Sleep is for the Weak