S'more

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A common "S'more"

A s'more is a traditional campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a slab of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.^[1]

S'mores are associated with recreational camping. Part of the enjoyment of this simple dessert is the way in which it is made on such camping trips. A marshmallow is skewered on the end of a long stick and held just above the campfire until (according to personal preference) its outer surface starts to brown, char, or even catch fire. Once heated, the inside of the marshmallow becomes soft. The marshmallow is quickly pinched off its stick with the waiting graham crackers, one of which has a piece of chocolate on it (typically a section of a milk chocolate bar). Ideally, the heat from the roasted marshmallow partially melts the chocolate into a gooey mess. However, some people assemble the entire s'more on the stick and cook it all at once to ensure gooey chocolate. Some people add peanut butter to the mix for additional flavor. The peanut butter may be added between a graham cracker and the chocolate piece or between the chocolate piece and the marshmallow. Many s'more consumers will set the waiting graham cracker and chocolate near the campfire to help melt the chocolate.

Making s'mores in this manner is so popular in the United States that supermarkets often carry graham crackers, marshmallows, and huge chocolate bars in the same shelf section during the summer months. In recent years "S'More Kits" for making the treats on the kitchen table at home have been sold at housewares stores. These consist of a small heating element to cook the marshmallow, metal skewers and a lazy susan to hold the "raw" ingredients. These are similar to fondue sets. Different items sold as s'mores may be found in restaurants, prepared at home, or even bought ready-made. These confections usually contain the three ingredients of graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow, but they are not necessarily heated or served in the same shape as the traditional s'more.

One new variant of the s'more is the "Belgian S'more" which is made by inserting red licorice on top of the marshmallow (either before or right after heating). The result is the same s'more but with a chewy center. The naming of this is probably akin to other 'Belgian' recipes involving sweets.

S'mores popularity has also spread to other foodstuffs; Pop-Tarts now feature a s'mores variety that has a graham cracker crust, chocolate icing, and chocolate & marshmallow-flavored filling.

August 11 (or, as sometimes cited, August 10) is claimed by some to be National S'more Day in the United States.^[2]

[edit] Etymology and origins

S'more appears to be a contraction of the phrase, "some more".^[3] The informal nature of this term reflects the environment in which s'mores are traditionally served and its meaning hints at the desires of campers who are not satisfied by the first bite of the treat. Some have jokingly surmised that the name originated from people who were so busy eating the tasty treat that they did not have time to speak in complete sentences, or alternately, that their enunciation was compromised by the fact that their mouth was still full of the previously mentioned s'more.

Another theory is that the dessert is so sticky, particularly due to the combination of melted chocolate and marshmallow, that it is especially difficult to talk or swallow, and this remains the case for some time even after the entire dessert is eaten. Therefore, if someone who has finished swallowing their last piece of the dessert is asked if they'd like another, "s'more please" would be all they could manage to relay.

While the origin of this popular campfire dessert is unclear, the first recorded version of the recipe can be found in the Girl Scout Handbook of 1927.^[4]