Monday Mashups: National S'mores Day

Whether they are legitimate or not, we sure do love the "National Holidays" folks celebrate via social media. Come on, we're sure you've seen your friends cheers-ing on National Tequila Day on Snapchat or enjoying a scoop or two on National Ice Cream Day on Instagram, so we know you know what we're talking about. August is full of these days worth celebrating. As a matter of fact, this Thursday, August 10th, is one of our favorites, National S'mores Day!

In case you don't know, a s’mores consists of a roasted marshmallow with a layer of chocolate bar sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker. The origin of this campfire favorite is credited to the entrepreneur Alec Barnum. However, the first recorded version of the recipe can be found in the 1927 publication of Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. Even though the Girl Scouts were not the first ones to make s’mores, they describe them in their reports as early as 1925. Earlier recipes used the name “Some Mores” for this perfectly melty summertime snack. It is unclear when the name was shortened to “S’mores” but it definitely describes this classic combination perfectly.

Today, we're bringing you five of our favorite recipes that put a spin on these traditional treats. Join us in celebrating National S'mores Day with these sweet snacks!

Churro S'mores

Just two of our favorites combined into one. We could eat this double dessert every single day of the summer (winter, spring and fall too). Yum! Get the recipe here.

Deep Fried S'mores

We've had deep fried Oreos. We've had deep fried Snickers. But we've never had deep fried S'mores! These ooey-gooey bite size doughnut-like treats are all we want to eat after a day in the summer sun. Check out the recipe here!

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches

If you want something to cool you down after a long summer's day, this is the treat to beat. Nothing will hit the spot quite like this s'mores ice cream sandwich! Find out the recipe here and whip up some of your own before summer's gone.

S'mores Campfire Cones

Just 1, 2, 3--3 ingredients to transform this traditional treat. Keep the marshmallow-mess contained in a sugar cone for the ultimate late night snack. Get the complete recipe here!

Ultimate S'mores Milkshake

Last but definitely not least, this ultimate milkshake is what dreams are made of! Overflowing with nostalgia and sugar, you'll forget all about your beach-body diet to sip on one of these for the rest of the summer. Indulge with this recipe!

Everything is s'more fun with a good dessert. Keep summer exciting with these sweet treats and devour the details of National S'mores Day with us this Thursday!

Savor the South End this Saturday!

The South End is a neighborhood of Boston bordered by Back Bay, Chinatown, and Roxbury. It is distinguished from other neighborhoods by its Victorian style houses and the many parks in and around the area. But do you know what else sets them apart from other Boston boroughs? Their restaurants and local cuisine!

This Saturday you can savor all the food the South End has to offer by joining a walking tour hosted by Bites of Boston. At Bites of Boston Food Tours, they are passionate about all things Boston (with the fabulous food scene being no exception)! Bites of Boston finds that being a part of this city means being surrounded by an abundance of delicious and eclectic food options every day. So why not take a moment to savor it?

Mouth-watering food tastings provide the foundation for the Bites of Boston tours and they firmly believe food is best enjoyed when served in the context of your local surroundings. Their neighborhood tours are carefully curated to create just that experience for guests. By combining sweet and savory food tastings with fascinating stories, local culture, history and architecture, they have created the perfect recipe for a fun, one of a kind way to explore some of Boston’s most vibrant and tasty neighborhoods.

Boston's South End provides the perfect ingredients for a delicious walking tour! During your stroll you will get to sample food specialties from local eateries, learn about the South End chefs and proprietors, and find out how this neighborhood’s past has contributed to its modern culture and cuisine.

Tour Info

• When: Thursday through Sunday, April through November.
• Time: Tours depart at 11:30am, 12:00pm and/or 12:30pm depending on the day of the week. View the tour calendar for specific times.
• Cost: $59 Weekdays / $63 Weekends (+tax)
• Duration: Tours last approximately 3 hours and cover under 2 miles of walking, so you can get your steps in while you eat!
• Where: Tour meets near Massachusetts Ave. and Tremont Street. Exact location provided at time of ticket purchase.
• What’s Included: All food tastings, enough for lunch.
• Who: All who enjoy, walking, learning and eating!
• Capacity: 16 people per tour.
• Wear: Comfortable clothing and shoes. Please bring rain gear if wet weather is predicted.
• Weather: Tour takes place rain or shine.

Tasting Info

The Elephant Walk South End

Cambodian-French fusion restaurant offering a bi-cultural menu

(Est. 1991)

Orinoco: A Latin Kitchen

A Latin kitchen inspired by family-run Venezuelan eateries

(Est. 2006)

Flour Bakery

Popular local bakery and cafe with mouth-watering pastries and delicious sandwiches

(Est. 2000)

South End Buttery

Neighborhood bakery/cafe known for coffee, cupcakes and fresh, simple, high-quality menus

(Est. 2005)

Formaggio Kitchen South End

Purveyor of fine meats, cheeses, wines and specialty products

(Est. 1999)

Stephi’s on Tremont

New American Brasserie offering sophisticated comfort food and a cozy atmosphere

(Est. 2009)

Hungry yet? We know we are! Tickets are available online for purchase prior to the tour. Check out these eclectic restaurant menus and call up your gal pals because you're in for a real treat! Join us this Saturday as we savor the South End and devour the details of this Bites of Boston tasting tour!

Wedding Wednesdays: Intimate Ideas for a Bigger Wedding

In 2016, the average number of guests couples invited to their wedding was 141. This number is considerably large considering the total cost of holy matrimony these days. Budget aside, with this big of a guest list, you can miss out on the intimate feeling of a smaller wedding. To make that personal connection on your special day, consider incorporating these intimate ideas!

Pre-Party
Host smaller, more intimate events leading up to your wedding day with various groups of guests. This will ensure some much needed attention paid. Whether your immediate family, college friends or work friends, it is nice to spend some time with each prior to your big day!

Light the Way
Incorporating a variety of soft and romantic lights to your reception venue can help create an intimate and welcoming atmosphere. Uplighting, lanterns, ceiling and market lighting will enhance the mood. Beware of harsh or bright lights, such as spotlights, and when in doubt, add an array of candles for a touch of romance.

Family Feast
Choose long tables over smaller round ones to create a feeling of being at an intimate dinner party with friends and family. A great way to share laughs (and maybe even a bite of each other's dessert).

Give Centerpieces the Lowdown
While big, tall centerpieces may feel appropriate for a large wedding, consider a low and lush option instead. With low centerpieces, guests are able to see one another and carry on conversation with everyone at the table, not just the person to the right or left of them!

Greet the Guests
Taking the time to spend a few minutes at each table greeting guests allows the bride and groom an opportunity to enjoy mingling with all of their loved ones and friends, and allows their guests to feel included in their day. Maybe even consider posing for a photo opp or two!

Casual Corners
Designate a space that's away from the reception room for guests to gather and chat—for example, an intimate cigar lounge with a rustic feel complete with wood furniture, Mexican blankets, a fire pit and maybe even some s'mores. Create that warm and cozy feeling for your family and friends to mingle! Or have a fun photo booth big enough for groups to gather (but not so big that it fits all your 141 of your guests).

Avoid losing out on that intimate feeling at your wedding by incorporating these ideas and devour the details of connecting with your guests—making memories to last a lifetime!