S'mores Ice Cream Sundae

S'mores belong in summer territory. There's just something about the heat of a long day, the glow of a warm bonfire, and a fragrant summer breeze that can't be replicated in the kitchen. Believe me, I've tried. Maybe the secret to the summer s'more lies in burnt marshmallow ashes. Perhaps it is in the slow, patient roasting of an exquisitely golden marshmallow over an open flame. Whatever the reason may be, I know that summer holds this secret deep within, keeping her lips sealed from me.

I've had my fair share of winter s'mores, but they never seem to come close—there is always something inherently lacking. The graham crackers are less crisp. The chocolate is always too sweet. And those microwaved marshmallows, those poor marshmallows, couldn't be any more inferior to their fire-toasted cousin. Winter s'mores can only daydream of breezy summer evenings, where the stars glow faintly and stories are shared by those sitting together around a flickering fire.

Nevertheless, I do like to experiment with s'mores flavors in the kitchen. Perhaps one day I'll crack summer's secret s'mores code, but until then, I can enjoy these unique flavors in interesting ways year round.

I cannot claim the delicious inspiration for this S'mores Sundae. The credit rightfully belongs to Frances at The Foodess Files. Frances sent me a wonderful email, taunting me with an absolutely sinful description of this sundae. I was immediately smitten. As soon as I had a spare moment, I rushed to the store and purchased the ingredients. I simply couldn't settle for a description of these S'mores Sundaes—I needed the real deal in my hands (or rather, my mouth) as soon as possible.

I used large marshmallows for this sundae since I mysteriously had 3 large bags of them sitting in the cupboard, but I wouldn't recommend using them for this particular sundae. The large marshmallows were too much for one bite, even when cut in half. I recommend using mini marshmallows or, if you happen to have a ridiculous number of large marshmallows lying around the house like I do, simply cut them into fourths with a pair of kitchen shears before toasting.

This S'mores Sundae is the perfect accompaniment to the swell of summer heat. The Honey Cinnamon Ice Cream tastes just like a cinnamon graham cracker, making a cool and refreshing base to this nontraditional s'more. The ice cream is then topped with oven-toasted marshmallows and drizzled in a homemade chocolate sauce. The chocolate sauce sets when it comes into contact with the ice cream, but melts into a delicious mess the moment it hits the tongue. For those of you who love s'mores, consider this my taunt to you. Now the question becomes, can you settle with a simple description of this sundae or, like me, will you suddenly be beckoned to the kitchen?

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Cauldron Cakes

This is part II of my mini-series on Harry Potter snacks from the books brought to life (part I is on Honeydukes treats, part III features every wizard's favorite drink—butterbeer!— and part IV showcases decadent butterbeer cupcakes).

When I was young, I wanted to grow up to be a writer. I also wanted to be a teacher, deep sea diver, and a cashier at McDonald's, but that's a different story. In early elementary school years, I would furiously write about anything and everything that came to mind. My stories expressed the affairs most important to a seven year old girl—monsters, dolls, and the first day of school. Though often incomprehensible, I was proud of my work. At the ripe age of eight, I took it upon myself to complete my first novel, Baby Gaga, which included 50 short chapters on the adventures of an articulate toddler learning to share, nap, and eat ice cream.

It would seem I had a bright future in writing, but all of this was cut short as soon as I entered fourth grade. Somewhere along the way, I just lost interest. Perhaps writing wasn't "popular." Perhaps I was too critical of my own work—nothing I wrote was good enough to satisfy me. At home, I would devour novel after novel, but I was no longer tempted to write my own.

For years, scarcely a sentence flowed from my pencil.

Then Harry Potter entered my life.

When I was fifteen years old, I became obsessed with the series. I would drink in as much of the magical world through the books and through the movies as I could. When that was no longer enough to satisfy my cravings, I began to seek out more. I discovered others who felt the same pull, the same desire to create more of this rich world. Together, we would write our own stories. I would borrow JK Rowling's characters and take them on my own adventures. I developed little known characters and gave them a story. A purpose. Writing became fun.

And the words began to flow from my pencil once more.

Harry Potter inspired me to continue writing again.

Since then, I've worked to keep writing a part of my life. Over time, my chosen topics have changed as my style has evolved. Gone are the days of writing about Harry Potter. Instead, I find myself journaling or finding small ways to share bits and pieces of my life with you.

While baking seems to come naturally for me, writing is still a challenge (and I imagine it will always be so). I often struggle with finding the right words to express the ideas swimming around my head. I am a slow writer, yes, but I have grown to love the art of the word. Sharing these words, thoughts, and ideas with you has become a natural part of my life. While writing can often feel like a chore, I find that the more I write, the more I am unable to imagine not writing. It has become a form of expression, a freedom, that is impossible to find anywhere else.

These Cauldron Cakes are the ultimate Harry Potter eye candy. They are easy to make, fun to eat, and, above all, delicious. Though the steps may appear long or complicated from a quick glance at the recipe below, I assure you they aren't. In less than an hour, you can have one of these cauldron cakes in your belly. By simply flipping a cupcake over, it opens a whole new world of possibilities. These cauldron cakes consist of devil's food cake cupcakes dipped into a rich chocolate glaze and filled to the brim with marshmallow filling. Chocolate chips form the cauldron feet, which not only keep these cauldrons looking more authentic, but stop the cauldrons from rolling around. I like to think the edible gold glitter means these cauldrons are filled with a little Felix Felicis (or "liquid luck").

These cupcakes would also make a perfect Halloween treat!

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Harry Potter Treats

This is part I in a mini-series of Harry Potter snacks from the books brought to life (part II is all about the cauldron cakes, part III features every wizard's favorite drink—butterbeer!— and part IV showcases decadent butterbeer cupcakes).

Harry Potter has always held a special place in my life. I started reading the books when I was 11 years old. Harry and I grew up together. The books were as much of a part of my childhood as school or my friends. I've read them more times than I can count—so much so, that many of my cherished hardcover books have began to fall apart at the seams.

Harry Potter and his world have always held a magical quality for me. When I was younger, the wizarding world seemed so close to me that, if I closed my eyes, for the briefest of seconds I could almost imagine myself in it. Thanks to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and briefly living in England for 6 months, those faint dreams of my youth have become more of a reality.

Over the last ten years, Harry Potter has taught me about life and growing up. Dumbledore lectured me on the significance of morality and empathy, as well as the importance of humanity. Harry Potter showed me the power and strength of sticking to your beliefs, especially in the face of adversity. Ron and Hermione taught me the sincere virtue in forgiveness. The characters showed me that every decision comes with consequence, good or bad. Perhaps this sounds silly but, after dozens of book readings and re-readings, I've noticed that I have unconsciously taken these lessons and subtly applied them to my own life.

As the release of the last movie approaches, it marks the end of an era for me. There will be no more Harry Potter books or movies. No midnight release dates to look forward to. The last movie, in some ways, marks the end of my childhood. After July 15th, I will slowly become an adult in my own eyes—the last ties to my childhood will have been cut.

JK Rowling, if you only knew the profound and positive effect you've had on my life. Like Harry with his lightning bolt scar, you, too, have left a permanent mark on me.

While the release of the last movie looms ever closer, I wanted to bring to life various Harry Potter treats from the series. Over the next few days, you can expect to see more Harry Potter snacks and drinks (can we say butterbeer?) as I celebrate the end of a great era. Whether you are hosting your own Harry Potter party, or simply want a sweet treat to celebrate the release of the movie, these Harry Potter snacks are for you. Many of these treat ideas can also be applied to birthday or Halloween parties.

Today's menu: sweets from Honeydukes and the Hogwarts Express food trolley.

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