Everybody loves s'mores, but building a campfire or revving up the barbecue just to roast some marshmallows is a lot of work. And microwaving just isn't the same, especially for folks who love that caramelized char on the gooey marshmallow. Fortunately, you can make s'mores without all the hassle by roasting your marshmallows in miniature terra cotta fire pits. These little fire pits are so easy to assemble, everyone can have their own s'mores station any time of year.
Things You'll Need
- Terra cotta pot
- Heavy duty aluminum foil
- Terra cotta saucer
- Self-lighting charcoal briquettes
- Lighter
- Newspaper
- Skewers
- Marshmallows
- Graham crackers
- Chocolate bars
Step 1: Choose a Pot
Terra cotta pots come in a variety of sizes. I chose one with a rim that was 3 1/2 inches in diameter. This size pot can hold 4 to 5 charcoal briquettes. If you choose a pot that is 4 to 6 inches in diameter, you will be able to hold more charcoal, and your fire will be larger. However, the smaller size is sufficient for roasting a marshmallow. You aren't grilling a steak with this fire pit.
Step 2: Line the Pot with Foil
Turn the pot upside down. Tear off a piece of foil large enough to cover the pot, and wrap the foil around the outside of the upside down pot. We're just shaping the foil at this point. Heavy duty aluminum foil works best. If you don't have heavy duty foil, use two sheets of regular foil.
Remove the foil from the outside of the pot. Turn the pot right side up, and insert the shaped foil inside the pot.
Fold the excess foil around the brim.
Step 3: Place Saucer Under Pot
The terra cotta pot will get hot to the touch, so place a saucer under the pot in case you need to move it around. The saucer will also help protect the surface of your table.
Step 4: Add Charcoal Briquettes
Place charcoal briquettes in the foil-lined pot. I recommend charcoal that is formulated to light without having to use lighter fluid, which has a strong odor and can be dangerous when lit.
Warning
These fire pits are meant for outdoor use only, as charcoal should never be lit indoors. Keep children away from open flames, and never leave lit charcoal unattended.
Step 5: Light the Charcoal
With a long-armed lighter, light the charcoal, and the flames will immediately start burning.
Step 6: Keep the Flames Burning
As the charcoal heats up, the flames may die down. To keep the flames burning, add another charcoal briquette to the pot (there should be room as the burned charcoal reduces in size), or add a few sheds of newspaper to the pot.
Step 7: Roast Your Marshmallow
Insert a skewer through your marshmallow, and hold it over the flame of your miniature fire pit. Watch the marshmallow carefully, as it will start burning quickly. Also note that even if the flame burns out, the hot coals can still melt your marshmallows.
Step 8: Make Your S'Mores
Place the roasted marshmallow between two graham crackers and a piece of chocolate, press down to spread the gooey marshmallow, and pull out the skewer. The marshmallow will still be hot, so be careful before biting into it.
Tip
These fire pits have easy clean-up. When the charcoal has burned out and cooled, just wrap the ashes in the foil and discard.
What a fun way to enjoy s'mores any time of the year, with no fuss and no mess.
No comments:
Post a Comment