A s'more
August 10th was National S’mores day, which reminded us of this important American treat. Read the transcript of an interview between a Living Language ESL blog writer and a s’more expert and get the scoop on this very special American treat.
Living Language: What exactly is a s’more?
S’more expert: A s’more, or sometimes smore, is a sandwich made with graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows. At the end of this post, you’ll be rewarded with full instructions on how to make it!
Living Language: What does s’more mean?
S’more expert: The term was created when Clarice Nelms [5], the author of Developing Leadership in Recreation, published the recipe for this treat and said at the end: squeeze the sandwich and you will want “s’more”, or some more.
Living Language: What’s the origin of a s’more?
S’more expert: Legend has it that the first recorded recipe for s’mores was published in Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts of 1927, although the American dictionary Merriam-Webster states that the first known use of the term was in 1974.
Living Language: When do people eat s’mores?
S’more expert: Traditionally people eat s’mores in summer evenings around a campfire. Children place marshmallows on a stick and roast them on the fire, then add the delicious goo on a piece of chocolate that will also melt and ooze out of the cracker sandwich.
Living Language: Aren’t s’mores too caloric?
S’more expert: It is true that a single s’more can total about 242 calories, but that’s less than the calorie count for a store-bought chocolate bar. In addition, since s’mores are traditionally eaten round a campfire, the children have probably played all day around the campsite and are ready to recharge!
Living Language: Why was August 10 the date chosen to celebrate s’mores?
S’more expert: S’mores are part of a deeply rooted American tradition: summer camps. Every summer, thousands of children from all over the country go on supervised camping trips where they swim, canoe, hike, enjoy outdoor activities and at night eat s’mores and tell ghost stories. So celebrating s’mores in August is very fitting.
"Fire". Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fire.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Fire.jpg
Living Language: How do you make a s’more?
S’more expert: Start with a campfire. Please don’t microwave the marshmallow! Roasting them in the flames of an open-air campfire is incomparably delightful! Then you’ll need graham crackers, a chocolate bar and marshmallows.
Instructions: Break a graham cracker in half. Add a piece or two of chocolate to one of the halves. Roast a marshmallow and place it on top of the chocolate. Place the other half of the cracker on top of everything and remember the most important of all is to squeeze the parts delicately together “till you want s’more!”
Enjoy responsibly!
