Today, August 10, is National S'mores Day (there really is a holiday for just about everything out there). I'm a *huge* fan of s'mores; anytime I know I'm going to be around a blazing fire, whether it's at a campsite, the firepit at a friend's house, or an indoor fireplace in the middle of winter, I make sure to stock up on the essentials -- graham crackers,  chocolate bars (I prefer milk chocolate, usually Hershey's -- the bars are divided into squares that are perfect for s'mores, and they melt easily and uniformly) and jumbo marshmallows. For marshmallow roasting, I'll usually forage for sticks earlier that day, or right there on the spot. Everyone's got their own s'mores-making style; here's my strategy, which I think yields the ultimate s'more:

1. Set up your work station. Break apart the graham crackers and place two on your plate. Break up the chocolate bar and place a piece on one of the graham crackers (I like to use at least 2 Hershey's squares per s'more). Make sure you have napkins on hand.

2. Skewer a marshmallow on your stick and hold it into the fire; I like to first warm up my marshmallow all around in the flames, eventually letting it catch fire so that I have to blow out the flame. Now, some people disagree with this method, preferring to slowly let their marshmallow toast on all sides without setting it on fire. I'm not really a fan of this slow-and-steady technique, and here's why: a. It takes way too long for the marshmallow to get to s'more-ready gooeyness; I need the instant gratification. b. I like the crispness of the burnt exterior, complemented perfectly by the warm, oozing, melted center; gradual toasting doesn't give the outside of the marshmallow that same crunch c. You lose the danger factor, the drama. After all, what's more exciting than setting your food on fire?  d. If I wanted to sloooowly toast my marshmallow, what do I need a fire for? I can do that over a gas stove or a heater or a car engine.

2. Once you've got the marshmallow burnt/toasted/melted to your liking, quickly place it on top of the chocolate-covered graham cracker. Put the other graham cracker on top of the marshmallow, pressing down as you pull out the stick so the melty marshmallow stays on the s'more.

3. Smoosh the whole thing into a cohesive little sandwich and wait a few seconds for the heat from the marshmallow to melt the chocolate. Eat. Wipe mouth. Repeat as often as desired.

What's your s'more-making strategy? Are you a marshmallow slow-toaster or fast-flamer?  

--Maggie

photo: s. peutzer/getty images