A British variant on 'smores. When I saw what was happening with the blue napkin on the red and white tablecloth, I couldn't resist adding the American subtext. It is relevant today, after all.
Well it’s the Fourth of July, I had to use ‘smores today!
In Britain this day is known as the American’s Independence Day. I get asked, ‘do you celebrate Independence Day even though you’re in Britain?’ When I first moved here this was briefly confusing. ‘Oh, you men The Fourth of July!’ Which is weird of me (but I know I’m not alone), because Independence Day sounds much more Grand and Exciting than just capitalising the date and calling it a holiday. For whatever reason, we just don’t generally call it Independence Day in the States.
To answer the question, no, I don’t really celebrate it. Like Thanksgiving, The Fourth of July, (Independence Day) is too imbedded in culture to be easily celebrated outside of that culture.
It’s more than fireworks–if I could find a lake or big park with a giant firework display tonight it would not be the same. It’s more than the gathering of family and friends for a BBQ down at the State Park–we often have big family get togethers here in the UK and while they’re fun, I don’t feel like I am celebrating a national holiday. It’s probably the build up: a day off work, the Red White and Blue everywhere, the party atmosphere of many people making plans to meet up and do things, it’s the great weather for watching fireworks in the evening.
And it’s the ‘smores.
Toasting large marshmallows over a campfire, breaking a Graham Cracker in half, balancing it on your knee, laying a strip of two or three Hershey’s rectangles on one cracker, then placing the puffed, toasted marshmallow on the chocolated cracker, pressing down with the other cracker, pulling the stick out and making an oozing, warm sandwich of Yum.
An American classic. And in the spirit of bringing easy, tasty American treats to the Brits, today I bring you ‘smores. No, I cannot find much nutritional merit in ‘smores other than perhaps magnesium in the chocolate or B Vitamins in the crackers. And of course the lovely, instant release of endorphins when both toasting the marshmallow and eating the ‘smore.
(I’m pretty good at justifying something if I want it enough. I had to justify ‘smores twice this weekend as I made these for the blog post. My endorphin levels are pretty high now.)
But you can’t easily get Graham Crackers or Hershey’s chocolate here. I know, you think it’s good that Hershey’s isn’t the chocolate of choice here, and I agree on every occasion apart from this one–for ‘smores, it’s a perfect chocolate because it’s slightly bitter and thin. So for substitutes, I’ve found Rich Tea Biscuits work like Graham Crackers and Lindt Chocolate is thin like Hersheys. I suggest the dark Lindt Chocolate–and if you want a nice twist, get the dark Lindt with sea salt. Very yum.
Also, if you aren’t able to toast the marshmallow over a campfire, rather than attempt to toast it over your gas fire, or gas hob (which is possible, but potentially very very messy) 10-20 seconds in the microwave will puff it up and melt it just enough to use. You want it warm enough to change shape and begin to melt the chocolate when pressed onto it in the sandwich.
And when you finish one, you’ll know why they’re called ‘smores!
| ‘smores |
- Large white marshmallows.
- Rich Tea Biscuits.
- Lindt dark chocolate.
- Place one marshmallow in a microwave on a plate.
- Try heating it for 10 seconds at a time until it puffs up over twice its original size and can be easily mashed into the biscuit sandwich. Usually about 10-20 seconds.
- Place a square of Lindt chocolate on one biscuit, set the marshmallow on the chocolate, press the other biscuit on top.
Try the Lindt chocolate with sea salt, the subtle salty taste is lovely with all that gooey sweet!
We’ve been using chocolate digestives to make smores, which, of course, don’t really appeal to my English husband anyway. I’ve even had trouble finding the large white marshmallows, and have occasionally had to use the dreaded pink ones that are so popular over here. Why on earth are they pink??
Anyway, happy Fourth to you and yours!
Thank you Janet, Happy Fourth to you too!
I can see that chocolate digestives would work! But there’s something about the digestive’s texture that didn’t appeal to me as much as Rich Tea. Oh, if only there were Graham Crackers…
Pink marshmallows–I know! Why? (But the Brits are probably saying ‘marshmallow sandwiches, why??’)
I think Martha Stewart has a recipe for making your own graham crackers. I don’t feel quite that desperate at this point, but I think I bookmarked it somewhere just in case I do get that obsessed with proper graham crackers.
Sounds interesting! I may do like you, look it up and bookmark it but it sounds pretty desperate…
I’ve seen that too, but like you, I don’t feel that desperate. How often did I ever actually use Graham crackers in the US anyway? For a pie crust or s’mores. LOL
Actually, Graham Cracker and peanut butter sandwiches are TO DIE FOR. And if you mix honey and peanut butter… even better. (ooooh, stomach growling now).
Mmmm…those look delicious!
Happy 4th! x
Happy 4th to you too Abby!
Graham crackers are on amazon for sale. If you’re only making smores every so often, it would be worth the import tarrif added to the cost. Otherwise, give me like ten of those, please.
I would eat the whole box in a day, I could never save them for making smores ‘every so often’!
So funny, I blogged about making S’mores today too! But I did mine the same way Janet did, mostly because I was too lazy and making them with my friend’s children, but I can see where the tea biscuit and Lindt would make it a bit more grown up!
Great Minds Think Alike! I’m off to read yours now…
heh! I’m really quite amused that both of us thought “oooh S’more” when we thought of today
Michelle, now this is something I feel sorry for, that Brits cant get graham crackers to experience a real s’more. I don’t think a Rich Tea biscuit cuts it but I will say, a s’more can only be improved by the addition of Cadbury chocolate (real Cadbury.) That would be amazing. By the way, they now sell S’more kits here. In one box you get everything you need to make s’mores. There is also a s’more maker.
http://www.hersheys.com/puresmores/
http://marshmallowstix.com/smoremaker.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Hersheys-Smore-Maker-bonus-fondue/dp/B000GYTATW
Smore kits?! And I felt silly making a recipe card for them, a kit is simply ridiculous…!
The S’more maker is hilarious! My mom spotted it on clearance for $5 once and was tempted to get it for the sheer ridiculousness of it
I’m going to try that in my Aga!! They will only need a split second. I happen to have a bag of marshmallows that need using up so am going to give these a try and serve them with fresh strawberries. MMMMmmm
Thats a perfect way to use up marshmallows! I hope you like them…
Oh oh, do you by any chance blog about cooking on your Aga? I have a solid fuel Aga sitting in my kitchen not being used. The plan is ot get it cleaned up this summer so I can try it in the Autumn, but I have no idea how to use it!
I like the toasted brown parts of the marshmallow after it’s been held over the fire.
Mmmmm! Me too.
I never had one in my whole life. I might invite myself to Essex next year and you can show me how to do it properly
Happy 4th! xx
It’s a date! You’re welcome any time
I had never heard of them before we moved here – but now my boys love them.
Another friend of mine here makes a delicious snack of Hershey’s kisses melted on top of mini pretzels. Yum.
Oooooh! Chocolate on pretzels? Very yum I am sure!
Girl, you can totally get graham crackers here! There are 3 or 4 websites that stock American foods — here’s one of them
http://www.americansweets.co.uk/american-honey-maid-graham-crackers-3539-p.asp
There’s a coffee shop in Austin, Halcyon, where you can go and order s’mores and they will bring you all the ingredients and a little bunson burner to make them. Delicious at 2 am with friends!
Ok I get it!
I know you can get these here and there’s a great independent food store just down the road from me that sells all kinds of imported foods, but £5 a box seems INSANE. I want to go to Tescos and pick up a box for the same price as a packet of Digestives. Or whatever. But you’re right. When I get really desperate I’ll fork out 
That place in Austin sounds fab!
Michelle, you take all of the fun out of it if you don’t toast the marshmallow over an open fire. I usually only indulge in s’mores during camping trips.
I know. But if one doesn’t have a campfire, at least there’s some fun in eating them!
Great post! My colleagues and I were brainstorming some blog ideas last week and we were wondering how one might celebrate Thanksgiving when they are on assignment. I’m going to reference this post somewhere in that post – even one tasty treat (the s’more) can be symbolic enough to ease homesickness during wholly American holidays.