glamping Archives - grace grits and gardening

Jonquil Festival!

A couple of weeks ago I shared a booth at the Jonquil Festival with fellow Delta author, Rhonda G. Williams. This was the first time either of us had sold our books at a craft fair. In fact, it was the first time I’d had a vendor booth at any fair. (I’ve been to book fairs with my publisher, but I wasn’t in charge. Totally different.) I wasn’t sure how this event would turn out. Local books and local crafts? Why not?

Truth: sitting under a canopy for three days subject to wind, cold, heat, humidity, rain—all the crazy Arkansas weather—life begins to feel like camping. And I prefer my camping with a touch of comfort. As in glamping.

Almost Glamping?

glamping at Jonquil Fest

So what’s glamping? It’s inspired camping. Camping with glamour. Glamping is about having fun, being adventurous, stringing up a paper chain and not worrying about making things perfect.

Almost glamping is what Rhonda and I did with our Jonquil Festival booth. While technically we “camped” in town at local hotels, we glamped up our booth.

Are you an author?

I have a theory. While nothing will replace engaging writing, an interesting title, and a compelling cover, a creative vendor booth will bring folks over and allow you to visit with them. Books don’t sell themselves. I’d like to believe someone walking by might glance over to our booth and think, “My, my, aren’t those ladies creative. Their books must be magical!”

See how it works? It makes perfect sense in my mind.Continue Reading

Did I mention these Fancy Raspberry S’mores were made with marshmallow Peeps? Oh, yes. Leftover Easter Peeps. And of course, there’s a story, a foodie challenge of sorts. What could I do with the Peeps my sister-in-law sent home with me after Easter lunch?

Before I get to the recipe I created, first the backstory.

My sister-in-law made an incredible Easter lunch including salmon, wild rice, asparagus and all the trimmings included mystery flavored Peeps (just for fun y’all). Since Peeps introduced mystery flavored chicks and bunnies for Easter, we did our own taste-tasting and flavor-guessing, washing everything down with champagne. We guessed the bunny flavor correctly—green apple—but the chick was tricky considering it wasn’t a true flavor at all but fruit punch. Hmmm.)

Anyway…

I couldn’t let the leftovers go to waste, so I came up with a different sort of s’mores. The fancy sort. Something perfect for glamping with the girls or sitting around the backyard fire pit on a nice spring evening. Dessert for our weekly girlfriend supper.

Fancy Raspberry S’mores ingredients.

I used Jules Destrooper Butter Crisps which are thin, perfect for fancy s’mores, and sold in the deli area of my regular grocery store (Harp’s). A few years ago, The Bald Gourmet did a review of these cookies. Even though no mention was made of Peeps, he said they are perfect served with fruit, goat cheese and honey, yogurt, pudding, or with your favorite hot beverage. I concur!

butter crisps - perfect for making fancy s'mores

I wish I had one with my coffee this morning.

Look at that deliciously gooey melted peep. Of course, you could use a regular marshmallow.

I used my garlic baker (perfect size to make four s’mores) and broiled them in the oven.

Fancy Raspberry S’mores

Ingredients

Butter Waffle Cookies
1 Hershey Chocolate Bar
Fresh Raspberries
Marshmallow Peeps (I used fruit punch chicks)
Balsamic Vinegar (optional)

Instructions

Prep: Cut peeps into two pieces. Half raspberries. Break candy bar into sections. Depending upon size of cookies, you may need to break cookies into two pieces. These s'mores are small - two bites. A little goes a long way.
Set oven to broil.
Place one layer of cookies on cookie sheet. Top with one section of chocolate and one piece of marshmallow.
Broil until melted. This takes no time! Keep a constant watch.
Remove from broiler. Place two raspberry pieces on marshmallow. Top with cookie. Press.
Drizzle with a smidgen of balsamic vinegar.
If you are camping, melt marshmallows over open flame, the old fashioned way.

https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/fancy-raspberry-smores.html

Decadent and rich. The raspberry makes it extra tasty. The waffle cookie is buttery and lighter than a graham cracker which sound oxymoronic but is true. Just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar cuts the sweet.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Fancy Raspberry S’mores made with leftover Easter #Peeps! Decadent #glamping #dessert. @PEEPSBrand @Hersheys[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing (perfect glamping song):

Otis Redding, The Dock of the Bay