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S’mores: They are a-changin’

Staff writer

When Bob Dylan wrote, “The Times They Are a-Changin’” in 1964, he wasn’t referring to a time-honored fireside sweet. But time marches on, and s’mores they are a-evolving, so Dylan’s anthem can now be applied to seeking the truth about just desserts.

Nationwide and in Marion County, graham crackers, chocolate bars, and even standard marshmallows have been tossed in favor of other delectable s’more ingredients.

While camping at the county lake Marion resident Donna Hajek recently met a Salina family that had abandoned graham cracker exteriors for Oreo cookies to construct what they called “s’moreos.”

Hillsboro resident Jennifer Janzen prefers to use another cookie to complete her family’s sweet sandwich.

“We use striped fudge cookies,” Janzen said.

Marion resident Gary Ewert recommends a fudge stripe cookie, too.

“That’s what we used last time,” he said. “It was perfect.”

Tampa resident Marsha Meyer also has witnessed Girl Scouts using Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups instead of Hershey chocolate bars.

Evidence from Chrissy McFall, of Marion, suggests that s’more evolution has been around for longer than some may realize.

“We use Girl Scout cookies and put a Rolo in the marshmallow,” McFall said. “A few years ago I saw it on Pinterest. You place a Rolo candy on your stick, then put the marshmallow over it, and you roast it. It is a caramel gooey mess but it is good.”

Her family also has used Girl Scout cookies dubbed “Thank You cookies,” which are shortbread with chocolate on one side.

In some cases, even standard white marshmallows are traded for newfangled flavors.

Abilene resident Donna Reynolds said one of her sons and his wife had a s’more bar at their wedding.

We used thin mint and lemonade Girl Scout cookies,” Reynolds said. “We had a couple of different kinds of marshmallows. Did you know they have different flavors? Talk about serious yum.”

So it seems s’more enthusiasts can attain their own ooey gooey nirvana. All they need do is dare to dream.

Brief history of s’mores

When delving into such a sticky issue, it may help to look back on s’mores’ sweet history.

Their exact origins are unknown. One early recipe published by Campfire Marshmallow Co. in the 1920s called the s’more a “Graham Cracker Sandwich” — a name that predates its current contraction of the phrase “some more.”

Legend has it that once a s’more touches a person’s tongue it sets off a chemical reaction in the brain that is beyond most people’s ability to control.

Under a s’more’s influence, people salivate while their pulse quickens and they become so enamored with its taste that they don’t want it to end.

The average s’more eater goes from politely munching to hurried crunching and, as the feeling intensifies, manic gobbling.

Not only do the words “some more” become slurred. The entire recipe can be changed.

Last modified June 30, 2016

 

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