Cheap Date: Tabletop S’Mores

We live on a budget around here. It’s just how it is. We make do with what we have, and we live pretty well by watching our expenditures. We try not to go out to eat very often for two reasons: a) it’s way more expensive than cooking at home and b) it’s really hard for me to watch my calories when I eat out unless we go to a chain restaurant. So I cook a lot of meals at home, which is fine by me.

Friday night was our home date night, and it was my turn to plan. I decided an interactive meal would be fun! For our entree, we had broth fondue: I had shrimp and The Hubs had thinly sliced beef round. For veggies we had onion, red bell pepper, broccoli and zucchini. The broth was quickly thrown together with beef broth (if you pay any attention to me at all you’ll know I use bouillon cubes or powder instead of buying liquid broth), shao hsing rice wine, minced garlic and a pinch of a dried mushroom seasoning rub I bought when I was in Richmond. It was delicious, super low calorie for me (about 300 calories!) and it was FUN! But the pièce de résistance was dessert: tabletop s’mores!

The Hubs quietly admitted to me that he had never in his 38 years on this earth, EATEN A S’MORE. What whaaaaaaaat? I was gobsmacked. He gently reminded me that he had never been camping, and s’mores were most decidedly camping food. (The Hubs, like my dad was, is not outdoorsy AT ALL. This occasionally makes me very, very sad.) Now, those of us who HAVE been camping before, know that a true S’more is made with Hershey’s chocolate, roasted marshmallows and graham crackers. Many will insist that you can’t truly make this dessert without a campfire. Well guess what? I will never get this man to go camping, and we live in an apartment. We can’t even have a GRILL. So what’s a girl to do? BUY STERNO! (As always, be CAREFUL with this stuff. You CAN hurt yourself and you CAN set things on fire. I am not responsible for any injuries or fires.)

Tabletop S’Mores

Ingredients

• 1 small can Sterno
• marshmallows
• chocolate squares (I classed up the joint a bit by using Ghirardelli 60% Chocolate Squares because gosh darn it, I like it. The Hubs used Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Squares filled with Raspberry, because he’s a REBEL)
• graham crackers
• sticks or skewers (we used a pair of metal chopsticks)

Method

Set the Sterno in the middle of something heat-resistant. I used a thick wooden cutting board. Carefully pry off the lid, being cautious not to get the gel on your fingers. Then follow the immortal guidance of Jim Morrison and COME ON BABY LIGHT MY FIRE!

Set out two graham crackers per S’more, and top one cracker with a square of chocolate.

Stab a ‘mallow with your stick, and hover it over the flame. DO NOT TOUCH THE GEL WITH THE FOOD. Now, how you toast your marshmallow is totally up to you. I happen to like to set mine on fire so it has a nice char on the outside, because perfectly burnt food is a gift from the gods (I’m looking at you, bacon and hot dogs).

Plop that baby down onto that chocolate square and use the other graham cracker to hold down the molten deliciousness so you can slide out the stick. Squish the crackers together and then dig in! The Hubs declared S’mores DEEEEE-licious!

(Also? Totally remember to carefully extinguish the Sterno so you don’t burn your home down. Seriously.)

So what’s your favorite way to have date night at home?