s'mores

S’mores Martini

July 20, 2016 by rachelle 11 Comments

Since we’ve already trashed this week by starting out with beer and donuts on Monday, let’s just keep going with some S’mores Martinis and just call it booze week. You dig?

I don’t know about y’all, and I know I always say this, but I sure am ready for the weekend! It’s been tough going over here with all this trying to eat healthy during the week ’cause I’ve been complaining that my pants don’t fit for approximately 9.467 months and haven’t done anything about it until now.

All I’ve been eating are salads and fish during the week and dreaming of the beautiful weekend of stuffing my face into donuts, boozy ice cream, and chocolate-y, sticky, gooey, marshmallow-y S’mores Martinis.

I gotta be honest here too. I don’t even really love marshmallows. It’s a texture thing. But I’m serious as a train wreck when I tell you that when that stuff gets all melted and toasty I don’t know what in tarnation comes over me, but that stuff is DELICIOUS! Combine it with some chocolate booze and I’m a goner. No self control. Zero.

If you’re not busting out of your pants and don’t have to wait until the weekend to have yourself some indulgent S’mores Martinis, I highly recommend you get your self to the booze store STAT then swing by your local Publix or Teeter for some fluff, marshmallows, and graham crackers or crumbs – I usually get those ’cause I’m totally lazy and usually in a hurry to get to the good stuff and not necessarily in the mood for graham smashing. Although it depends on the kind of day I’ve had. Or how fast I need that martini in hand and down the hatch. Sometimes a good graham smashing is good for the mental health.

Sigh…. Is it Friday yet?

S’mores Martini

Ingredients

1 marshmallow
1-2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
1-2 tablespoons marshmallow cream
3 ounces Creme de Cocoa
3 ounces Bailey's Irish Creme
1.5 ounces vodka
1.5 ounces heavy cream

Instructions

Transfer marshmallow cream to a bowl and microwave 15-20 seconds, stir
Coat edge of martini glass with melted marshmallow cream
Coat the marshmallow cream edge of the glass with graham crumbs, set aside
Add marshmallow to a parchment paper lined baking sheet
Toast marshmallow under broiler 1-2 minutes, rotate and toast another 30 seconds to 1 minute, rotate again and toast another 30 seconds to 1 minute, remove from oven and let cool while mixing the martini
Add 5-6 ice cubes to a martini shaker
Combine Creme de Cocoa, Bailey's, vodka, and heavy cream to shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds or so
Pour into prepared martini glass
Garnish with toasted marshmallow

This recipe makes 1 martini with a small sidecar

S’mores in Mason Jars

July 14, 2016 by rachelle 9 Comments

I realize that it’s still National Ice Cream Month, but it just isn’t summer in the South until you put dessert in a jar.

And yes. I meant to capitalize South. It’s a proper noun down here and we’re getting busy with our s’mores jars.

I know I’ve been smacking y’all in the face with some popsicles and ice cream. I figured we all could use a break. So I threw together some dark chocolate pudding, whipped up some marshmallow topping, broke up some graham crackers, and tossed it all together in a jar.

Down here we call that dessert.

And it’s a totally picnic worthy dessert because you put all that s’mores, dark chocolate pudding, graham crackers, and whipped marshmallow frosting in a jar. Then you top it with chocolate bar and a perfectly toasted marshmallow. Or a burnt one. That’s sometimes the way I like to roll.

The cool thing is that then you can just put a lid on it! You store it in the fridge until it’s time to go! It’s a perfect make ahead and take dessert to whatever family party or horrible family reunion you’re forced to attend.

But you’re the hero.

Because you brought s’mores in a jar.

Have a great weekend, y’all!

Love, Rach

S’mores in Mason Jars

Ingredients

For the Dark Chocolate Pudding

4 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter

For the Marshmallow Topping

2 sticks butter softened
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1 18 ounce container of marshmallow cream
24 graham cracker sheets
4 Mason Jars
4 regular size marshmallows
1 1.55 ounce chocolate bar broken into 4 pieces

Instructions

For the Dark Chocolate Pudding

Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a small bowl
In a medium pot, heat milk, cornstarch, and cocoa powder until warm and steamy - do not boil - remove from heat
Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture and repeat until milk is reduced by half
Add the egg/sugar/milk mixture back into the pot with the remaining milk and bring to a light boil, stirring constantly.
Just when the bubbles begin, remove from heat, stir another 1-2 minutes
Stir in vanilla and butter until butter is melted and let cool for a few minutes
Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and pass the pudding through the strainer into a bowl - this will catch any egg pieces that may have scrambled
Cover with plastic wrap so that the plastic touches the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming
Chill in refrigerator overnight

For the Marshmallow Topping

Beat butter on medium until smooth
Beat in marshmallow cream and vanilla bean paste

To assemble

Break up 12 graham crackers and evenly distribute into 4 mason jars
Evenly divide the chocolate pudding between the 4 mason jars
Crumble and divide the remaining 12 graham crackers evenly on top of the pudding
Evenly top with marshmallow topping
Transfer marshmallows to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and toast under broiler for 1-2 minutes, rotate and toast another 30 seconds to a minute, turn again and toast for another 30 seconds to 1 minute
Top s'mores with toasted marshmallow and chocolate pieces
Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for later

S’mores No-Churn Ice Cream

July 4, 2016 by rachelle 16 Comments

I thought we’d take a break from popsicles.

Just for a minute! We need to talk about ice cream today. Do you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? It’s totally legit. Trust me. I know these things and I never joke about ice cream.

We discussed this last year, but if you’re new to these parts, welcome! Or if you need a refresher, President Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation in 1984 making July National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday National Ice Cream Day. You can read all about it here.

Can someone please sign into public law a National Popsicle Month? I’d be forever grateful.

Now, I realize that some of you may not yet have been born back in the days of 1984, but wasn’t it nice of those of us coming before you to pave the way with our very stylish fashion trends, cassette tapes, perms, and Jane Fonda aerobics VHS tapes complete with leotards and leg warmers.

You’re welcome. Don’t forget the animal print and neon hair scrunchie.

If you were part of this planet in 1984, I don’t know what in tarnation you were doing from 3:00 – 4:00, but I was keeping up with Luke and Laura. Not much different than what I do today. Only enjoying my guilty pleasure of General Hospital these days is much easier with the whole DVR thing.

Thank you, Time Warner Cable for that $248 a month cable bill. You make life worth living.

I recommend and 100% support an afternoon of staying inside with the A/C to veg out with some GH binge TV and a big bowl of S’mores No-Churn Ice Cream to beat the heat these hot summer days.

And for Jennifer, who requires photos of steps – here you go:

Happy National Ice Cream Month!

S’mores No-Churn Ice Cream

Ingredients

1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder - I used Hershey's
2 cups heavy cream
1 package of 12 sheets graham crackers - I used Nabisco
12 regular size marshmallows

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine condensed milk, vanilla bean paste, and cocoa powder
Place marshmallows on a parchment lined baking sheet and broil 1 - 2 minutes, turn the marshmallows, and broil another 1 - 2 minutes, careful not to burn, remove from oven, set aside
Add heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment
Whip cream on medium high until stiff peaks form, about 2-3 minutes
Transfer whipped cream to the bowl with the condensed milk mixture and fold in whipped cream
Add graham crumbs and toasted marshmallows and gently combine
Transfer to a loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight

s'mores

S’mores Martini

Ingredients

Instructions

S’mores in Mason Jars

Ingredients

For the Dark Chocolate Pudding

For the Marshmallow Topping

Instructions

For the Dark Chocolate Pudding

For the Marshmallow Topping

To assemble

S’mores No-Churn Ice Cream

Ingredients

Instructions

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