Valentine's Day S'mores

Since I wanted to keep this menu fairly easy, I used some short-cuts from the grocery store. If you want to make everything from scratch, by all means, do! But I find that buying the graham crackers and good-quality marshmallows saves a lot of time and effort, especially for how quickly these will be eaten up! I used marshmallows from the Little Flower Candy Company, which, incidentally, also makes killer caramels.

In this case, you really do need a heart-shaped cookie cutter. If you don't have one or don't want to buy one, forgo the heart shape--it'll still taste good!

I really enjoy the combination of raspberries and chocolate--my husband preferred this dish without, though...so don't use the raspberries if you're not totally into them. If you want a different flavor, you could always put a little liqeur into the chocolate (cointreau for an orange flavor...or a coffee liqeur...amaretto for an almond flavor...mint extract...or a little espresso powder). Go easy, though, so you don't make the sauce too runny.

2 graham cracker sheets
2 oz. semi-sweet good-quality chocolate
2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 marshmallows

Optional:
1/2 pint raspberries
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon favorite liqueur (brandy, cointreau, framboise, etc)
2 Tablespoons sugar

1. Cut out heart shapes out of graham crackers and carefully set aside.

2. In a double broiler or a microwave at half-power, melt together the chocolate and the cream. Dip the graham hearts in the chocolate and put on a sheet of parchment paper to dry. If you have extra chocolate, save for later. (Wink wink nudge nudge)

3. Mash together the raspberries, vanilla, liqueur, and sugar.

4. Preheat boiler. Put the marshmallows on a cookie sheet and place in broiler with the door open. Watch carefully as these can burn quickly (as I'm sure you already know from campfire memories). Bring to a toasty golden brown color and remove from oven.

5. Assemble. Put one chocolate-covered heart on the plate. Place the marshmallow over that, and then put another heart on top of that. Drizzle the raspberry mixture around.

Printable version here.