S’more Nostalgia
Transport yourself to the dreamy days of a childhood summer with this trio of s’mores. From the tried and true classic to bougie twists with roasted strawberries, this summertime staple is filled with delightful nostalgia.
Backyard glamping s'more setup!
Summer is such a nostalgic place for me. Days spent diving into any bit of water I could find and evenings snuggled up next to a crackling fire in the woods of the Pacific NorthWest roasting jet-puffed marshmallows. It was an uncomplicated time. My biggest worry was perfecting the technique of my 360 on a kneeboard. There was no social media to keep up with. No bills to pay. And I did not yet know the infuriating challenges of adulting.
Classic s’mores. Beautifully toasted to gooey perfection.
I was lucky. I grew up in the emerald greens and sapphire blues of SouthWest Washington. A place full of towering trees, endless pockets of lakes, rivers and waterfalls, and rambling blackberries that demanded picking. For me, summer was all about mini adventures and as much water as possible. We might not have done the big family trips with souvenirs to show off when school began in the fall, but we did have a local athletic club equipped with a high dive, a massive water slide and a snack stand stocked with nachos and hot dogs and artificially dyed snow cones. It was truly a childhood paradise. These long days of summer are cemented in my mind as some of the most happy and carefree moments of my life. It all seemed so simple. Dial-up internet was nouveau tech and disposable cameras were tucked into backpacks ready to snap a photo that would maybe, one day be developed, exposing blurry memories of the ‘best summer ever!’ I long for the joy of oscillating sprinkler tunnels on the lawn, otter pop dyed tongues and awkward tan lines from the 90’s one piece that stylishly sported huge cut outs on each side, because I was not yet allowed to wear a bikini.
As I grew up, things changed a bit. There were poolside crushes, more time was spent working on my tan with glitter infused suntan lotion in lieu of perfecting my underwater handstand and there was an endless plea with my mother to be able to get a belly button piercing. A few things remained unchanged however… The desserts of summer. The homemade pies with Erickson Farms peaches, the cobblers made from wild, sun-ripened blackberries and most importantly, the s’mores! Toasted to perfection after a long day of summery adventures, these treats bring back far more than late night sugar rushes and sticky fingertips. They illuminate the end of the day moments around a campfire that were so utterly sacred. The stories told, the amber glowing faces, the silence, the laughter and the bug spray. These flickering slices of time are irreplaceable and forever engraved on my soul.
Lake days. A 90’s childhood was maybe the best childhood.
All of my favorite summertime memories seem to be sandwiched between two graham crackers like a perfectly toasted marshmallow. Gooey and sweet and perfectly imperfect. Each bite transporting me to days of laughter and cooler packed sandwiches and beach towels spread out on the slowly dying grass. So, in honor of my childhood summers, I have put together a couple of my favorite s’more creations in hopes to transport us to a land of sunshine and simpler times. Xx
S’more tarts. Perfect for a dinner party dessert or a chic twist on a nostalgic treat.
A s’more platter with roasted strawberries, fancy dark chocolate and waffle cookies. The perfect elevated s’more for a chic campfire aesthetic.
To do a bit of reminiscing, I still indulge in a nostalgic s’more experiences each and every summer. From the tried and true classic to bougie twists with roasted strawberries and pink peppercorn, s’mores always dazzle and delight. Time around a fire with loved ones and sticky, gooey marshmallows will forever hold a special place in my heart. Transport yourself to the dreamy days of a childhood summer… arrange a s’more platter, light a fire (or a kitchen torch) and toast up a marshmallow. Or make yourself a chic, high brow s’more tart to wow dinner party guests, bringing on inevitable nostalgia at the end of a fancy feast.
Fluffy marshmallows, decadent chocolate and crispy cookie goodness — pure 90’s kid joy! Xx
Classic S’mores
S’more tart
S’mores with roasted strawberries
S’more Tart
Pâte Sucrée
Ingredients
Makes 6 round 3” pastry shells or one large round 9” (use leftover pastry dough for pastry crust cookies!)
80g brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg beaten
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick butter - room temperature
Method
Cream sugar and butter together in a stand mixer. Add egg, vanilla and cream until combined. Sift in flour, salt and cinnamon Refrigerate. for 1 hour. Roll out chilled dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut into circles large enough to fit your tart tins. Freeze for 15 minutes. Once chilled and firm, line with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or pastry weights and bake shell at 350° 15 mins. Remove lining and weights and bake a few minutes more if needed until golden. Let fully cool before filling with ganache.
Ganache
Ingredients
250 g of dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
300 g double/heavy cream
Method
Heat the cream in a saucepan until simmering. With the chocolate chips in a large heat proof bowl, gently pour the hot cream over the chocolate and carefully mix until fully combined. Pour the ganache into the tart shells and allow to cool at room temp until solid. Once solid, store in the fridge.
Meringue
Ingredients
300 g sugar
200 g egg whites
1 pinch kosher salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
Bring an inch of water in a saucepan to a simmer (take care to not overfill as the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl). Combine the egg whites, sugar and salt in the metal bowl of a stand mixer. Place the bowl over the simmering water and stir the egg mixture with a rubber spatula until it is hot and all of the sugar has completely dissolved (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and place the mixing bowl onto the stand mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on high until stiff, glossy peaks form when you lift the beater and the meringue is cool to the touch, this process will take about 10 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix for one more minute.. Spoon the meringue into a piping bag and pipe over the chocolate tart as desired. Using a kitchen torch, toast the meringue with a lovely golden color and enjoy!
