S'moreigins: The Gooey and Mysterious Origin of S'mores

As you bite into that quintessential summer treat of gooiness, you may be wondering, “who first thought of making a s’more, and can I shake their hand?” We’re here to shed some light on the origin and history of the messiest of all desserts.

As we all know, the s’more is made by sandwiching a perfectly toasted marshmallow and a square of milk chocolate between two layers of graham cracker. There are many variations to this standard, and there are countless ways to roast (or set fire to) your marshmallow, but the basic recipe remains unchallenged.

But how did the s’more begin and how did it become such an unfailing part of bonfires and campouts across the country?

A Sticky Trail Through History

The exact origins of the s’more are as sticky as the marshmallow itself; but they may have been inspired by two popular 1910’s treats: the Mallomar and the Moonpie. The Mallomar was a graham cracker topped with marshmallow and dipped in chocolate, and was produced by Nabisco beginning in 1913. The MoonPie was a similar snack—two graham crackers with marshmallow filling, all dipped in chocolate–hitting the market in 1917.

Marshmallows themselves have quite a history, evolving from a whipped version of the sap of a white swamp plant (that plant naturally being called althaea officinalis–or march mallow) into the gelatin/sugar/air concoction we know today. By the 1890’s, manufactured marshmallows were part of Americana, and marshmallow roasting get-togethers were quite the fad.

Combine the average American’s familiarity with the roasted-to-perfection marshmallow with the idea of Mallomars and MoonPies as inspiration, and it isn’t a far leap to what we know as S’mores.

Originally called “Some Mores”, the first time we see a written recipe for this treat is by none other than the Girl Scouts. It first appears in the camping and scouting guide called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts, published in 1927. Ingredient number one? 8 sticks.

Today, the three s’mores ingredients are the first thing you see in every grocery store or gas station entrance during the summer, and they’re always on the program for summer bonfire nights. The flavor has even become the unofficial flavor of summer.

As Vogue magazine observed, “In recent years, the sweet s’mores flavor has gone mainstream: There are s’mores-flavored Oreos (as well as S’moreos), M&M’s, ice cream, and even cocktails. It’s probably safe to say that the taste of s’mores is the summer equivalent of fall’s ubiquitous pumpkin spice.” We aren’t complaining; we all just want s’more!

If you’re looking for the best equipment to make your own sticky summer treat, check out firebuggz.com. From fire fishing poles to cone cookers and snackleboxes, you’ll find everything you need for a truly sweet summer right online!

Your Guide to Firebuggz Holiday Gifts

It’s that time of year again–the time of giving! You can show someone how much you love and care about them by giving them a gift they never expected. Just in time for the Holidays, we’ve created the ultimate gift guide for anyone on your list. These awesome Firebuggz products are guaranteed to put a smile on your loved ones’ faces:

1. The Original Log Lugger

Have you ever been sitting around a bonfire and notice that someone (maybe you) has a long stick propped against their chair, specially saved for pushing logs around in the fire? Later, you might witness that person struggling to maneuver logs with careful jabs of their stick while using one arm to block the smoke from their face. That person, or any campfire enthusiast, would love to get a Log Lugger this Holiday season. This ingenious product allows you to turn logs, lift brush, and pull branches at a safe distance from your fire. Measuring at four feet and weighing about five pounds, the Log Lugger is easy to use and makes turning logs a breeze.

2.  Plug N’ Play Fire Pit Insert

When you have multiple people buying a gift for the same person or couple (such as adult children looking to get a gift for their parents), it’s a good idea to go in on a gift. The Plug N’ Play is the perfect option. This multi-purpose fire pit insert allows you to use multiple Firebuggz accessories that convert your fire pit into an outdoor cooking entertainment center. With products like the Swivel Grill, Rotisserie Kit, and the Slide Grill, multiple people can add to this gift, or you can keep adding on after the Holidays.

3. Happy Pak

The Happy Pak includes two Fire Fishing Poles and a carrying case so you’ll never lose your poles. These poles are unique in the way that they allow you to roast up to four marshmallows or two hot dogs seamlessly at one time. Simply jig the pole like you would a real fishing pole and your marshmallows will flip and cook evenly to the perfect toastiness.

4. Buggzy Pie Iron

Make from quality cast iron, the Buggzy Pie Iron has a unique double cooking chamber that allows you to cook twice as much as the standard pie iron. As your grub cooks, the iron brands your snacks with “Grubbin’ Time” and “Yummy in my Tummy”. Campers of any age will love cooking outdoors with this fun pie iron. From desserts and pies iron to more savory meals like hamburgers, pizza, grill cheese, and so much more, anyone on your Holiday list will be excited to find this under the tree. You can find fun recipes for the Buggzy Pie Iron here.

5. Cone Cooker

For the S’more lovers on your list, Campfire Cones are on fire this Holiday season! With the Firebuggz Cone Cooker, making a delicious S’more Cone is simple and fun! Add your favorite fixings inside a waffle cone, wrap the cone in tinfoil and place into the cone cooker. After a few minutes, you’ll have a delicious, unique campfire treat.

The holidays are a time for giving. Make your Holiday gifts unique and fun this season with the help of Firebuggz. And don’t delay–we’re selling out fast!

You can find more awesome Firebuggz products on our website and be sure to stay tuned for more cool products to come!

Make Fall Fires More Fun with a Buggzy Pie Iron

Fall is nearing its peak, and soon Minnesota will see the snow once again. Before the frigid weather hits us again, remember that Fall is the perfect time of year for an outdoor bonfire!

Our newest grill and campfire accessory, the Heavy Duty Pie Iron, is perfect for making treats around the fire this Autumn. Its unique double cooking chamber lets you cook twice the amount of delicious treats—so you can make double the hamburgers, pizza, pies, quesadillas, grilled cheese or anything else your heart desires!

If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll love this scrumptious pie iron strawberry shortcake recipe. The combination of the angel food cake, strawberries, and dark chocolate warmed in a pie iron is guaranteed to make you go back for seconds. You will need:

• Buggzy Pie Irons
• Angel Food Cake
• Butter
• Strawberries
• Dark Chocolate
• A Campfire

If pies are more your thing, then this campfire pies recipe is for you! All you’ll need is bread, cinnamon, sugar, and seasonal fruit. Sprinkle the bread with cinnamon and sugar, fill your pies with fruit (or the ingredients of your choice) and cook over a roaring campfire. Don’t forget to spray your pie iron with nonstick spray beforehand.

Lastly, for the meat-lover, making a Reuben has never been easier by the campfire. You can make Campfire Reubens just like campfire pies, except using corned beef, sauerkraut and swiss cheese instead of fresh fruit between your bread—you might want to skip the cinnamon and sugar, as well. These delicious sandwiches can be whipped together in five minutes for a quick and simple campfire dinner for the family.

If you plan on spending some time by the campfire, make sure to pick up your own Buggzy Pie Irons for all your campfire needs. You can choose from two different sayings—“Grubbin’ Time” and “Yummy In My Tummy"—and four fun colors. All you have to do is put it on the hot coals for three minutes you have a delicious meal!

Firebuggz pie irons are made from quality cast iron so they are guaranteed to last for years to come. It’s our mission to provide you with the best campfire supplies so cooking can be a breeze and making memories will be your number one priority. Visit the Firebuggz online store for this and more fun campfire accessories.

Perfect Night Photography: How to Take Great Pictures in the Dark

Have you ever had a bonfire with friends or family and tried to take pictures, but you couldn’t see anything? Taking pictures at night can be tricky, but you don’t have to be a professional photographer for your campfire pictures to turn out. With these helpful tips, you can capture memories at your next outdoor gathering and leave without blurry, dark pictures:

1.     Keep the Camera Steady

A shaky camera is never good. Using a tripod will be the easiest way to get the exact angle you want while keeping your camera steady. If you don’t have a tripod, that’s okay! Find a flat stable surface such as a table, chair, rock or stump to either rest your camera or your arm on to have a steady shot at your campfire.

2.     Shoot Around Sunrise & Sunset

Shooting during the blue hour (just before sunrise or just after sunset) will give your night pictures a little more detail.This time of day will also add a beautiful blue light to your scene.

3.     Don’t use Flash

If your turn the flash on your camera, it will enhance the faces of the people in your picture, but it will wash out your campfire and surroundings. If you need extra light in the picture, try bringing a flashlight or headlamp to add some extra light.

4.     Slow Down your Shutter Speed

In order to get good photos of your campfire, you will have to take some long exposures.  This means you will want to slow down the shutter speed, which will bring in more light. Turn to your camera’s manual to learn how to change your shutter speed. If you are using a phone or digital camera, look for a ‘night’ setting.

5.     Time of Day

Test out different times of the day by starting your campfire early and taking pictures before the sun goes down. As you change times of day the light will also be changing so make sure to adjust your exposure every few minutes. Take more photos as the sun goes down and again once it is pitch black outside. By taking pictures at different times of the day, you will have a variety of pictures with different lighting to choose from.

6.     Be Creative

Test out different angles and shots around the campfire. Get down low and shoot up at other people around the fire. Most people tend to look down at the fire so you will be able to capture their faces. Try incorporating the smoke by shooting through the flames.  Don’t be afraid to experiment and try something new—you never know how it will turn out until you try.

Taking pictures at night is fun and exciting. It is worth your time to grab your camera equipment and set up around the fire.  Whether you are new to photography or a little more advanced, these tips will help you better your night photography skills and capture your campfire memories for years to come.

For more tips on campfire fun, visit Firebuggz online at Firebuggz.com.