There's a National S'more day?

OK, really there is a day for everything. Even s'mores have their moment in the sun.

I'm not a huge fan of s'mores -- way, way too sweet. But, before you accuse me of being a Communist, I'll acknowledge their place in the national lore. I'll also acknowledge that my children love them, and when my son was small, we tried sticking him to the side of a truck after a s'more fest. He was so sticky, he almost clung to the side of a Silverado like a mussel on a piling.

As it turns out, National S’mores Day is Aug. 10, and The Hershey Company is giving consumers one more reason to celebrate with a collection of new recipes and cooking tips to create
s’mores treats for every taste.

For more than 80 years, families and friends have gathered around the campfire (or grill or, in the case of my high school chemistry class, the Bunsen burner) to indulge in the classic combination of s’mores - Hershey®’s Milk Chocolate, gooey marshmallows and Graham crackers. Naturally, there's a Web site: www.smoresfun.com.

“S’mores have always been a campfire favorite, but families don’t have to head out to the woods
to enjoy National S’mores Day this year,” said Linda Stahl of The Hershey’s Kitchens. “The Hershey’s Kitchens have created a host of s’mores recipes that can be grilled, baked and even microwaved. With these recipes, everyone can enjoy ‘s’more’ fun no matter where they are this August 10.”

S’mores are a quick and easy dessert to complete any backyard barbeque when cooked on the
grill. Start by placing half of a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar on half of a Honey Maid Grahams Cracker.

Then, carefully toast a large marshmallow over a grill preheated to medium, and place it on top of the Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar. Finally, top the perfectly melted marshmallow with the
remaining graham cracker half and gently press together for a delicious treat. Or to make “s’more” s’mores at once, assemble half of a Graham cracker, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar and marshmallow topped with the second half of the cracker and wrap it in aluminum foil. Place the foil pocket on the grill and cook for two minutes. The result is a warm, gooey s’mores treat.

Invite guests to build their own s’mores recipes this National S’mores Day with variations of the
classic treat. Try Chocolate Banana S’mores embellished with small slices of banana and Peanutty S’mores with a thin layer of peanut butter spread on the Graham Cracker. For dark chocolate lovers, try indulging in a recipe featuring a Hershey’s Special Dark Semi-Sweet Chocolate bar on a Graham Cracker, topped with a grilled marshmallow.

If the rain just won’t go away, families also can enjoy s’mores indoors. S’mores Ice Cream Pie is
frozen with vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Looking for a quick and easy recipe? Try Easy S’mores
Clusters. Simply break and heat six Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars in the microwave, and stir in two cups of miniature marshmallows and eight coarsely chopped Graham crackers. Then
drop spoonfuls of the mix into miniature paper muffin cups, cover and refrigerate until firm. This simple treat will brighten any rainy day.