A Southern Parenting Tale: Making S'mores a Family Summer Tradition

It's been awhile since I've shared a southern parenting tale.  Since we are at the midpoint of summer, I thought I would share our new family tradition with you, and tell you why I'm calling S'mores, "The Dessert of the Summer."

You know. There is always some song declared as the “song of the summer.”  Of course, I can’t tell you what that particular song is for the summer of 2013. In fact, I can’t name songs of the summer for past years, either.

But I can tell you the dessert of the summer.  And in my house, it is the S’more.  Yes, good, old-fashioned S’mores.  Nothing fancy.  Just marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate. 

So how did a S’more, something that has been around for decades, all of a sudden become the “it” dessert of the summer?

Last year, I did a family travel feature on the beautiful Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.  At night, families sit around the massive fire pit and make S’mores.  Kids run around in their golf shirts and best sundresses on the lush, green lawn. They stop only when it’s time to make the S’mores.  It was really a lot of fun and a great memory.

I definitely can’t wait to return to the Homestead one day to do all of that again, but this year we decided to bring a little bit of the Homestead to our own homestead.

We now have a small firepit in our backyard. 

S’mores are now our dessert choice of the summer.  We don’t do it often, and, because of that, it is still looked upon as a treat, kind of like going to the Homestead.

We’ve done it a couple of times with our extended family, and it was a fun, special time.  I definitely think we are making cherished memories with the kids.

But the other night, as some “song of the summer” was playing on Pandora, I was home alone with kids while my husband worked. I really craved a rich, gooey S’more.

Could I possibly?

Yeah, I wasn’t about to start a fire.

We made indoor S’mores.

Making indoor S’mores may not be as fun as making them in the fire pit, but they are still good.  And you can make one in half the time.

Hmmm!  And I wonder why my behind looks like a marshmallow. 

Hines S’mores (Fire Pit not needed)

I large marshmallow

I graham cracker, cut in half

1 mini bar of chocolate or 1 bar broken off a larger bar of chocolate.

Heat marshmallow for 10 to 12 seconds in microwave.  Carefully place it on graham cracker. Add bar of chocolate. Top it with another graham cracker. Mash it, and enjoy.  It tastes just like the ones made in the fire pit.

You may also like a S’mores cupcake recipe that has also been featured on the blog by Mandi McClure of Southern Gnome. 

Enjoy the dessert of the summer!  I know I do.

This piece was originally written for my TriangleMom2Mom column that runs every Wednesday. But, with everyone on vacation for the Fourth of July holiday, no one saw it so I'm sharing it here, too. 

Also, be sure to join us for Instagram Travel Thursday this week.  You can read  more about the link-up on Skimbaco Lifestyle.  Join us.