It is entirely coincidental that both yesterday and today, I have shared trio recipes – three variations on a common theme. Now that I think about it, this is a thing that I do. Once I find a recipe I really like, a multitude of variations on that concept will just start popping into my head. Usually it happens while I am driving. A couple of weeks ago the idea I was mulling over holiday baking on my way home from work. The idea for chai marshmallows popped into my mind out of absolutely nowhere (though may have been subconsciously related to a box of chai I had received not long ago from the good people at Fair Trade USA.) The warm spices of the chai blended with sweet fluffy marshmallow sounded amazing. As soon as we finished dinner that evening, I went straight into the kitchen and whipped some up. They were, indeed, amazing.
Then it was the giant bag of chai marshmallows sitting on my table without a purpose that led me to the idea of a s’mores bar for dessert at our holiday party. I crossed all of my fingers and toes for days hoping the weather would cooperate and when it did, we were armed and ready with homemade graham crackers, an array of chocolates, and vanilla, chai and peppermint marshmallows. The espresso was a recent addition to the family and seemed a perfect fit for the cold weather holidays. A s’mores bar is really one of the easiest but most fun dessert ideas around. Even after the party I had plenty of marshmallows left over so I packaged up more homemade grahams, chocolate squares, and marshmallows for s’mores in a bag as part of a gift for the kids’ teachers. So easy but so fun. Now if you’ll excuse me, there is a mug of hot cocoa with an espresso marshmallow calling my name…