🔥 The History of S’mores (and Why You’re Crying Over a Marshmallow Again) 🍫

S’mores are one of those rare foods that bypass your brain and punch you straight in the childhood. You don’t eat a s’more because you’re hungry—you eat it because your heart remembers something: the snap of a twig in the woods, the warmth of a campfire on your shins, or the one time you tried to roast a Peep and an M&M over a cigarette lighter in your dorm room and nearly set off the sprinklers. (Sorry again, Resident Advisor Gary.).

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The very first s’mores recipe appeared in a 1927 Girl Scouts guidebook—which makes perfect sense, because Girl Scouts have been snack geniuses since badges were invented. They called it Some More, which is dangerously accurate. Nobody eats a single s’more and says, “Ah yes, that’s enough molten sugar glued to my teeth.” You eat one, then another “just to even things out,” then a third, and then one where you declare loudly, "That was my last one!"—while elbow-deep in a freshly torn-open bag of marshmallows.

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Let’s talk elevated s’mores. Why settle for dusty grahams and plasticky chocolate when you could unlock flavor dimensions that might cause time travel?

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• 🧂 Alter Eco Sea Salt Chocolate – sweet, salty, and slightly philosophical. (Pairs well with late-night existential crises and hot cocoa.)
• 🌰 TCHO Hazelnut Chocolate – basically Nutella’s fancier cousin who studied abroad and uses words like “umami.”
• 🍪 Schär Chocolate Dipper Cookies – are we suggesting you use cookies instead of grahams? Yes. Are we suggesting you'll instantly become a dessert god? Also yes!
• 🧸 Schär Chocolate Honeygrams – gluten-free, yes, but also combines ingredients, making the lazy among you question: "Do I even have to add a marshmallow?"
• 🍼 Lily’s Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar – zero added sugar, maximum indulgence. Perfect for that one friend who says, “Oh, I don’t eat sugar” and then devours seven.

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So come to Ava’s. We’ve got the fire-starting kits (okay, lighters), the grahams, the marshmallows, and more chocolate varieties than an oompa-loompa's hairnet. (No, seriously—our chocolate selection is kinda ridiculous). Recreate your favorite sticky memory… or build a new one around the scorch marks in your kitchen. 🔥🍫💥 Let’s get s’more’d.

🌽 Got Fire? Roast Corn. (It’s Practically the Law.) 🔥

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If you’ve got a fire going—whether it’s for s’mores, sausages, or just "for fun" (seek help)—you should be roasting corn. It’s sweet, smoky, juicy, and one of the only vegetables legally allowed to wear butter like a fashion statement.

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Good news: Ava’s has a mountain of fresh, seasonal corn just waiting for you to unleash its potential. Corn doesn’t ask much—just heat, affection, and a little flair. Here are 7 delightfully toasted ways to roast it:

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1. Classic Corn on the Cob
   ​No instructions needed—just toss it on the grill or directly into the fire like a rustic corn wizard. Rotate until it’s charred and blistered, then bathe it in butter and salt until it glistens like a golden god. Now the only decision you have to make is whether to eat it vertically, horizontally, or from the center like some kind of monster.
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2. Aluminum Foil Pocket of Destiny
   ​Wrap a cob in foil with butter, salt, or herbs. Toss it in the coals, pull out your phone, and forget about it for 10–15 minutes. Bonus: it makes you look like you know what you’re doing.
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3. Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
   ​Corn, but ✨dramatic✨. Slather with mayo, crumble on cotija cheese, dust with chili powder, and squeeze on lime. It’s tangy, rich, a little spicy, and guaranteed to make you ruin your shirt. Pro-tip: A little Tajín goes well with any vegetable.
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4. Popcorn
   ​Don’t sleep on the classics. Get some dried kernels, toss them in foil with oil, and hold your little pouch of chaos over the flames. Prepare for science, magic, and popcorn raining from the sky. (Ava’s sells heirloom popcorn too—yeah, we’re fancy like that.)
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5. Dessert Corn Dreamboat
   ​Brush grilled corn with butter, roll it in cinnamon sugar, drizzle with sweetened condensed milk or honey, and maybe a light dusting of nutmeg. It’s like churro-corn. It shouldn’t work—but neither should bees, yet here we are. 🐝
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6. Corn Sushi (We’re Serious)
   ​Cut grilled corn off the cob and roll it up in seaweed with rice, avocado, and maybe a slice of mango if you’re feeling fruity. It’s summery. It’s shocking. It’s the kind of thing you try at 9 PM and think about for the rest of the year.
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7. The Popcorn Trap
   ​Cover corn on the cob with unpopped kernels using caramel as glue. Hold over the fire until the new kernels begin to pop—ideally directly into your open mouth. Is it dangerous? Yes. Is it popcorn Inception, starring Leo-corn-do Di-Cobb-rio? We're not sure yet—the top's still spinning. 😵‍💫

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So if you’re already wielding fire, don’t let corn sit this one out. Come pick up a few ears at Ava’s—toss ’em in a bag, in your cart, or straight into your heart—and give them the firebath they deserve.🔥🌽

🔥 Fire 'em Up! 🔥

Look, as long as the fire’s lit, something else might as well go on it. Here are some fire-worthy foods and flamespirations to fuel your next grill session, bonfire feast, or just Tuesday evening:

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1. Roasted Peppers 🌶️
   Toss ’em directly onto the flames until the skin bubbles like it’s auditioning for a monster movie, then peel and toss into salads, tacos, or directly into your mouth while making satisfied noises. Pro tip: Don’t forget to poke holes first or they’ll explode like spicy grenades. RIP to Aunt Linda’s patio umbrella.
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2. Fire-Kissed Squash 🍠
   Slice zucchini or yellow squash into long planks, brush with oil, salt ‘em, and grill until grill marks appear and they look like they’ve seen some things. Then serve with tzatziki and a knowing nod.
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3. Tomatoes 🍅
   Yes, tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes on skewers go full molten flavor bomb. Big beefsteaks? Roast ’em until they collapse into sauce. Fire-roasted tomatoes are what canned tomatoes dream of becoming.
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4. Grilled Bread of Destiny 🍞
   Thick sourdough, naan, or even mini baguettes. Butter ’em, grill ‘em, maybe rub with a garlic clove if you’re feeling seductive. Pro tip: Bread toasts FAST. Don’t blink. Don’t walk away. Don’t monologue (even with a cape).
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5. Flaming Fruit Fiesta 🍍🍑
   Slice peaches, plums, or pineapple and throw them on the grill. Finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, or maple syrup if you want your guests to propose to you.
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6. Evidence 📄🦴​
   Ava’s knows what you did last summer. We’re not saying we condone it… but if you need to roast some documents, a marshmallow, and a few red peppers at the same time—we’ve got lighters and plausible deniability.
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7. Effigies 🎎
   ​It's more fun with fire—whether you want to experience your very own little Burning Man (and remember it this time), create an oddly-cultish Wicker Man (your reasons are your own), or have some spare time to make a little straw version of your least-favorite public figure (you know who we're talking about).

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So yeah. If it’s flammable and edible, why not fire it? At Ava’s, we have everything you need to set your veggies (and your intentions) ablaze. Heck, we even sell propane. (Yes, the kind Hank Hill would approve of.)

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🔥🌽🧄 Come by and let us set your grocery list on 🔥fire🔥—in a good way.

📸 Reader Spotlight: Eugene’s Glorious Dogs 🌭

Huge thanks to Eugene, who sent in photos of the epic hot dogs he made after reading last week’s newsletter! Inspired by our completely normal and not at all unhinged hot dog topping ideas, Eugene grabbed ingredients right here at Ava’s, went home, and cooked up a masterpiece.

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He also dropped some wise words about our brioche buns, which he called “really delicious and make this dish extra special.” And we agree—who needs regular hot dog buns when you can use buttery, golden brioche that whispers, “You’re better than this”?

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Thank you, Eugene, for showing us how it’s done—and for proving that good taste begins at Ava’s.

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📸 And to all you other newsletter readers: if you try one of our recipes, ideas, or chaotic food challenges, send us pics! We love seeing what you make (and we promise not to judge your marshmallow technique… much).

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