There’s nothing like sitting around a roaring bonfire after dark when winter temperatures dip below freezing and icy winds nearly take your breath away. I remember how, in my younger days, my family would meet at the pond on our farm on frigid January evenings to ice skate and then warm up around a bonfire.
Before we could go ice skating, the temperature had to be well below freezing for a number of days so the ice would be thick enough to hold us, and to be sure it was good and solid, we’d skate after dark in case the sun had melted any small spots during the day.
So, there were times when the temperature was near zero. If you bundled up well and kept gliding across the pond, though, a small bonfire was enough to keep you comfortable. If you sat on logs close to the fire, it warmed your fingers and toes enough to get back out on the ice.
Back then we’d never heard of S’mores, but we did have a Thermos of hot cocoa that warmed us up inside. Today, S’mores is a popular treat served year-round, not just around a winter bonfire. The following recipe is an easy version of S’mores. It’s more “portable,” too, so you can serve the dish at summer picnics, or even at ice-skating parties around a farm pond in January!
S’MORES BARS
1 (10 1/2-ounce) bag miniature marshmallows (6 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
5 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (13-ounce) package graham cracker cereal (8 cups)
Butter a (13-by-9-by-2-inch) rectangular pan. Reserve 1 cup of the marshmallows. Melt remaining 5 cups marshmallows, chocolate chips, butter or margarine and corn syrup in 3-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.
Pour cereal into a large bowl. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal; stir until evenly coated. Stir in remaining 1 cup marshmallows.
Press mixture in pan, using buttered back of spoon. Cool at least 1 hour until firm. Store loosely covered at room temperature. For bars cut into 6 rows by 4 rows to make 24 bars.
Note: Semisweet chocolate chips can be used in place of milk chocolate chips.
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