Madison&Mayberry

S'mores At Home

I love S'mores.  But why do I have to wait for the grill-time of summer or the very occasional camp time trip to enjoy the marshmallowy mess? I've found an easy way to get quick S'mores at home that rival any you'll get over a campfire.

Le Petite Ecolier cookies are the start. These butter cookies are coated with a chocolate top (I like the dark chocolate version). This makes an easy process almost easier. I find the Hershey bars are too thick and are never fully melted by the time the marshmallows are ready. With the Le Petite Ecoliers, the amount of chocolate is a perfect ratio to the marshmallows and cookie.

First of all -- I don't own a microwave. In the beginning, it was almost a test to see how long Ryan and I could make do without a microwave. And where would we even put it if we had it? It's been more than three months and I only miss it to reheat leftovers (especially pasta). So the s'mores microwave option I used as a child was out. But the broiler? Why not? And guess what? It was perfect in that it yielded melted yet slightly charred marshmallows.

I only had the miniature marshmallows so I stacked them all on the cookies and then on a cookie sheet to go under the broiler. Check on them every 30 seconds. Mine were toasty after almost a minute. Keep your eye on them because like anything under the broiler, things burn at a rapid rate.

Other S'mores ideas:
Campfire S'mores, French Laundry style
S'mores Cake
S'mores Eclairs
S'mores Sundae
S'mores Bars

Technorati Tags:S'mores, Quick & Easy Recipes, Easy Desserts, Chocolate

Perfect Grilled Cheese

Everyone -- even people who can't (or don't) cook -- have a few cooking secrets to share. I learned a grilled cheese trick from a friend who could make this and only this. But he could make it well!

Sometimes -- especially when you are trying to use less butter in the grilled cheese process -- the bread browns and crisps but your cheese has refused to melt. How do you solve this?

Put a lid over the sandwich during the grilled cheese process. This creates steam, which helps the cheese melt. Make sure the stovetop's not at a raging hot heat or it will burn.

Ryan and I've been on a grilled cheese kick lately. (Ryan's healthy and has been using olive oil. It's not the same as butter but it's not so bad.) My current favorite grilled cheese sandwich has been turkey bologna (and, yes, I do like bologna, mainly because my mom refused to buy it for me as a child), cheddar cheese, sriracha and mayo. I tried cheddar cheese with apricot jam (a Chowhound recommendation) and thought it was good. But I prefer my grilled cheese with some spice, rather than sweetness. Mustard and hot sauce are a good combo too. And cheese and tomato never gets old.

The New York Times had grown-up grilled cheese variations. CBS News also has a list of grilled cheese tips (grate the cheese for easier melting) and sandwich ideas.  What's your favorite grilled cheese sandwich?