Please Sir, I Want S'more

I learned this past week that one of my favorite people in the world has never (never!) had a s'mores*. Yeah, I gasped a little too. Having a pretty insane sweet tooth myself I just couldn't stand for that. In my opinion, the choco-marshallow confection is integral to a healthy childhood (did I say healthy? I'm sticking to it!). So tomorrow we're doing it up right: Homemade graham crackers, homemade vanilla bean marshmallows**, and slabs of deep dark chocolate.

Graham Cracker recipe HERE.
Marshmallow recipe:

after trying several recipes over the years I assembled this one which uses egg whites. If you're wary of whipping egg whites (I understand) you can find one without, using a little internet research.

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold water

1/4 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon powdered gelatin

2 egg whites, room temperature

1 whole vanilla bean, split open and scraped or 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

cornstarch

Line an 8X8 baking pan with plastic wrap. Spray generously with cooking spray and sprinkle lightly with some cornstarch, shake the excess off. In a heavy-bottom saucepan, combine 1/4 cup of the water, corn syrup, and sugar, bring to a boil until “soft-ball” stage, or 235 degrees on a candy thermometer. Sprinkle the gelatin over 2 Tbs cold water and let dissolve. Remove the syrup from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix. Whip the whites until soft peaks form and pour the syrup into the whites. Add the vanilla seeds and continue whipping until stiff. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and let set 24 hours at room temperature. Unmold and cut squares with a hot knife.

To assemble: Lay your chocolate on the graham cracker and the marshmallow on top of the chocolate. Now stick it all under the broiler until the marshmallow is toasty ( like mine burnt) and the chocolate is soft. Finish with another graham cracker on top.

*poptarts don't count.

**I homemake everything, it's sort of a sickness.

Let's stay in, Let the TV be our stars

It began last month with everyone cracking jokes, "I though the rhyme went: April showers bring May flowers...not more showers!" which ceased to be a joke after May passed and it continued raining all through June. That's right, it has been raining for 2 whole months, seemingly nonstop. And though I'd love nothing more than to be outside right now, riding my bike or picnicking on the beach, sometimes staying in is just as fun.

Last night a very special boy and I made homemade pizza which, aside from the crust, contained no traditional toppings, and watched a funny movie. I also made this chocolate torte which was so good I plan on abandoning everything in my life to elope with it...or at least to eat it on my birthday/wedding and also breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

What do you do to beat the rainy day blues?
kiss? bake? take a bubble bath? watch funny videos?