Tuesday, April 28, 2015

A Writer’s Snack: Coffee S’mores and Micro Espresso S’mores from author Cleo Coyle


I think most writers would agree that working at home has its pros and cons. Casual Friday every day (huzzah!). Make your own schedule (woo-hoo!). A kitchen and fridge only steps away (uh-oh…).

Sad but true: the yawning cavern of my kitchen’s fridge is a tempting cave to frequent when I’m writing. It’s also my nature to nosh—and I do believe in embracing one’s nature. :)



On the other hand, too many trips to that fridge will take a toll on my (uh-hem) assets. Consequently, I have come up with Snack Attack solutions: apple slices, pineapple chunks, baby carrots with low-calorie dip, and…

I sometimes put together more creative snacks that are reasonable in calorie count yet big on satisfaction. In the past I have shared some of my simple but delicious "writer’s snacks," among them...


5-Minute Honey-Cinnamon
Peach Sopapillas 
(for the recipe click here.)


Apple Sauce Fruit Roll-Ups
(for the recipe, click here.)

Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter
Banana Bites 
(for the recipe click here.)


and No-Crust Mini Pizzas
(for the recipe, click here.)




Now with cookout season almost here, I have been craving s'mores. While they may not be the most healthful of snacks in my kitchen, they are oh-so-good for my nostalgic Girl Scout soul.


And so, with the calorie count 

firmly in check, I give you...


Two ways I've added s'mores to 

my working menu of "writer’s snacks."


COFFEE S’MORES


Cleo Coyle has a partner in 
crime-writing—her husband.
Learn about their books
by clicking here or here.

Although most sources agree that s’mores were enjoyed around campfires long before the recipe was written down, the first official publication of the recipe dates back to 1927 when it was printed in the Girl Scout handbook: Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. The name s’mores, of course, is a contraction of the reactioneveryone who tastes one asks for "some more."

I certainly feel that way about the warm, gooey, chocolaty treat. AND about coffee! Here’s the way I married the two, making this campfire classic a fun little coffee break nosh for me without the campfire.

Cleo Coyle's
Coffee S'mores

Makes 2 coffee-break cookies
Total calories: about 148 (74 calories each)

Ingredients:

1 sheet of graham crackers (try cinnamon grahams, they’re my favorite; the spice adds a fantastic flavor note for this combo)
2 teaspoons Marshmallow Fluff (or see my tip on making your own)
1 mini Hershey chocolate bar (or chocolate of your choice)


DIRECTIONS: Split 1 graham cracker sheet (65 calories) along its perforation lines to make 4 rectangular pieces. Spread 1 teaspoon of Marshmallow Fluff on each of the 2 pieces (about 13 calories total). Break the mini Hershey bar (about 70 calories) in half. Place each half on top of the Fluff-spread graham cracker rectangle. Cover with the remaining pieces to make two rectangular s’more sandwiches. 


Pour a hot cup of coffee. Dip one end of the long, rectangular s’more sandwich into the cup, allowing the heat of the coffee to melt the chocolate. Take a bite and enjoy your Coffee S’more! (Yes, I also re-dip the remainder and lick my fingers clean. It’s delicious!)







MAKE YOUR 

OWN FLUFF


Because Marshmallow Fluff is not easy to find outside the United States, I’m happy to suggest the following tip on making your own spreadable Marshmallow Fluff. 

This super-fast microwave method also makes a fantastic marshmallow frosting for cupcakes, or try sandwiching it between peanut butter cookies—delicious!

DIRECTIONS: For every 1 tablespoon of Fluff, place 1/4 cup of mini marshmallows into a microwave-safe bowl. Toss them with 1/4 teaspoon dairy milk (or almond or soy milk). Microwave very briefly (about 10 seconds) until the marshmallows are nearly (but not completely) melted. Remove from microwave and stir until the marshmallows finish melting. Place the bowl in the fridge and after the mixture chills a bit, you will have close to the equivalent of commercial Fluff.



MICRO ESPRESSO S’MORES

These micro-size cookies are perfect for an espresso break. And since the word "espresso" means expressed, it’s also the perfect way to describe these treats, which are made in just seconds with a microwave. They're great for small children, too. Not only are they fun to assemble, but their tiny size is just right for little hands and mouths. 


Cleo Coyle's
Micro Espresso S'mores

Makes 4 Micro S’mores
Total calories: about 140 (35 calories each)

Ingredients:

1 sheet of graham crackers (again, I love cinnamon grahams for this)

4 mini marshmallows
1 mini Hershey chocolate bar (or chocolate of your choice)

DIRECTIONS: Split 1 graham cracker sheet (65 calories) along its perforation lines to make 4 rectangular pieces. Using a sharp knife on a flat surface, slice each rectangle into a square. You now have 8 micro squares of graham crackers. Place 4 tiny cracker squares on a microwave safe plate. 




Break up the mini Hershey bar (about 70 calories) into four even pieces and place a small piece of chocolate on each of the 4 small cracker squares. Microwave only about 5 seconds—just enough to slightly soften up the chocolate. 


Take out the plate. Place 1 mini marshmallow (1.25 calories each) on top of each piece of chocolate. Microwave only about 5 to 7 seconds, until you see the marshmallow blow up to twice its size. 



Remove the plate and top each of the melted marshmallows with your reserved micro graham cracker square top. 

Each little s'more brings a surprisingly big mouthful of flavor and you have four of these gooey, warm, delicious, "espresso" s’mores on your plate to enjoy!


One last note...



And be sure to...





Eat with s'more joy!



~ Cleo Coyle

New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries 


Friend me on facebook here. * Follow me on twitter here
Learn about my books here



The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling
works of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
14 titles includes the added bonus of recipes. 

* * *

Once Upon a Grind:
A Coffeehouse Mystery



* A Best Book of the Year
Reviewer's Pick -
 
King's River Life


* Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews

* Fresh Pick ~ Fresh Fiction

* A Mystery Guild Selection


Delicious recipes are also featured in my 14th 
culinary mystery, Once Upon a Grind, including...

* Black Forest Brownies 
* Cappuccino Blondies 
* Shrimp Kiev 
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings
* Poor Man's Caviar 
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways

...and many more recipes, including
a guide to reading coffee grinds...


See the book's
Recipe Guide (free PDF)

* * * 


Marc and I also write
The Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries 


Get a free title checklist,
with mini plot summaries, 

by clicking here. 




Or learn more about the
books and meet Jack Shepard,
our PI ghost 
by clicking here. 




Sign up for my Coffeehouse Newsletter here.
(Recipes, contests, videos, fun info)


* * * 




16 comments:

  1. You're so clever Cleo--this would be a perfect snack! xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A snack for the soul, I think, and the kid in all of us. Thanks, Lucy!

      Delete
  2. A perfect snack, indeed.
    The challenge is stopping before the whole sleeve of graham crackers is gone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Libby, and you make an excellent point. After all, that's why they're called s'mores!

      I’ll tell you what I do to control my “some more” snacking: I take out only enough ingredients to make my serving, and then I wrap up everything and put it away. Once I sit down at my desk with my fresh, hot cup of coffee and my finished s'mores, I'm set—and, honestly, pretty satisfied. The coffee is warm and filling and goes a long way to keeping me from going back for another dip in that tasty, gooey, chocolaty s'more well (sigh :)).

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
  3. Such a good idea!! I love the micro ones......doing Weight Watchers, so I will need to figure out the points. I shared your idea with my DIL to make with my granddaughter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon - I love the micro s'mores, too, and I hope your granddaughter has fun with them. Most kids get a huge kick out of mini food, and I think you'll be surprised how much big flavor is packed into one little 35 calorie s’more square. Honestly, three or four of them with a cup of hot coffee or espresso and I'm happy, happy. Thanks for dropping by today, and may your week be delicious!

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
  4. I never even heard of S'mores until I was a senior in high school. Fellow classmates had to educate me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elaine - You are not alone! Marc (my husband and partner in crime-writing) never heard of them until he reached adulthood. My parents weren't clued in, either. I learned about them in Brownies and Girl Scouts—great clubs for girls. Packed away somewhere, I still have my Scout merit badges and handbook, and I can even recite the Girl Scout promise with the official hand salute, which (by the way) looks an awful lot like the Hunger Games Mockingjay hand sign, but that's another blog post!

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
    2. I led a sheltered life. We lived out in the country and mostly spent time with relatives, when not in school. I would never have known that the official hand salute of the girl scouts was like the Hunger Games Mockingjay hand sign! I guess I am still leading a sheltered life! I also never learned the Rock, Scissors, Paper game. I still don't know it!

      Delete
  5. Absolutely adorable! Love all the other micro snacks, as well. Great for kids, too. Shared ! :)

    Daryl / Avery

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Daryl/Avery - Mini food is so much fun, isn't it? When I was a kid, I was mesmerized by those little cocktail franks. I remember thinking, why don't they make mini buns to go with them? Hmm...maybe that's another blog post! :)

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
  6. I want one of these right now! the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Come on over, Peg, and I'll put the coffee on!

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter
    www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com


    ReplyDelete
  8. Cleo, have you been spying on me? LOL! Melted chocolate is so good on almost anything, isn't it? We writers have to keep up our strength!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Krista - Ha!! Not spying on you, but I'll bet your rug (like mine and every other writer under deadline) is a little extra worn on that path from the writing desk to the kitchen. (Keeping up my strength, I'll remember that one!) Thanks for dropping by and have a delicious weekend...

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
  9. Sounds yummy!!! jawdance@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete