S'mores Got Sass

This probably isn't going to shock anyone, but I've never gone camping.  There's no doubt that I'm as city as they get, and outdoorsy is definitely not a word that would ever be used to describe me.
Some people find the calm and quiet of the outdoors relaxing, but it really freaks me out.  See, in my neck of the woods ambulances and fire trucks drive down my street all day long blaring their sirens.  I admit that sometimes it can drive me up a wall, but mostly it's a reminder that I'm smack in the middle of all the action, and that's comforting to me.

My version of the great outdoors!

I do however have my own version of camping that I would like to share with you.  Welcome to city style camping!  It consists of my friends and I camped out at my house watching a Sex and the City marathon.  There's good food, good wine, and a lot of laughs.  Okay there's usually a batch or two of my passion fruitinis as well.  You'll more than likely hear a siren or two, but you definitely won't need any bug spray!  Most importantly no camping trip is complete without s'mores.  There's no campfire involved, but there is a blowtorch and disco dust!  I wanted to make s'mores ice cream sandwiches so I started out making Grand Marnier ice cream.  The ice cream alone is beyond.  Moving on, I made a dark chocolate ganache with Callebaut chocolate, and then tested a few different graham cracker recipes to find the perfect fit.  I layered all my components together using 3" ring molds and popped them in the freezer.  I whipped up a batch of marshmallows and let them dry overnight.  The next day I unmolded my ice cream sandwiches and cut up my marshmallows.  Using a small paint brush I brushed gold disco dust all around the chocolate ganache layer.  So sparkly!  Next I stacked some marshmallows on top and went to town with my blowtorch.  Finally I brushed some more disco dust on the marshmallows because, well it's disco dust and it's me :)  They're sparkly, boozy, messy, and oh so good!

City style camping

Graham Crackers

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup AP flour
• 1t. baking powder
• 1/2t. baking soda
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2t. vanilla extract

1. Whisk together dry ingredients.
2. Cream butter, sugars, and honey together till light & fluffy.
3. Alternate adding dries with milk & vanilla.
4. Form dough into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
5. Roll out dough on a well floured surface and cut out rings using a 3" round cutter.
6. Place on baking sheet and with a fork pierce a few holes in each cookie.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 13 minutes.

Grand Marnier Ice Cream

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups half & half
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 egg yolks
• 1T. vanilla bean paste
• 5T. Grand Marnier

1. Bring heavy cream, half & half, and sugar to a simmer.
2. Whisk yolks and vanilla bean paste together in a bowl and slowly add in hot cream mixture whisking constantly.
3. Once you whisk about half the cream mixture, transfer everything back into the pot.
4. Cook over low heat stirring constantly till thickened, about 2 minutes.
5. Strain and add Grand Marnier.
6. Refrigerate and process according to manufacturer's directions.

Dark Chocolate Ganache

• 24 oz. dark chocolate (I used Callebaut)
• 2 cups heavy cream

1. Bring heavy cream to a scald.
2. Pour over chopped chocolate.
3. Stir till it comes together.
4. You want the ganache to be at room temp for assembly.

Assembly

1. I started layering these using 3" ring molds.  If you don't have ring molds, you can use soup cans. 
2. Graham cracker, ganache, a scoop of ice cream, another round of ganache, and topped with another graham cracker.  Freeze overnight.
3. For the marshmallows I used my marshmallow recipe and instead of piping them, I spread the marshmallows on a parchment lined sheet pan that I covered in powdered sugar.  I let them set overnight and then I cut them into cubes.  
4. Once the ice cream sandwiches have set up and your marshmallows are all set it's time to get your sparkle on.  Unmold the ice cream sandwiches and brush the ganache with disco dust.  
5. Place the marshmallows on top and torch.  
6. Sprinkle the marshmallows with more disco dust & enjoy.