For the record, microwave s'mores are NOT OK and are NOT THE SAME. You need the charred taste on the outside of the marshmallow for an authentic s'more. I like to hold mine over the flames until the middle melts, then catch the outside briefly on fire and blow it out. Perfection.
You need one of those indoor s'mores maker thingies. I bought one for my mom and she loved it!
We have a gas insert for our fireplace and we use it a ton in the colder months. It really produces some heat and makes such a cozy ambience in our cold downstairs TV room, and the cats love lounging in front of it. You could invite some pigs in to enjoy yours if you hooked it up. ;-)
We have an induction stove (super popular in Europe) that is a glass surface but only heats the receptacle you're using and cooks like gas. So it never gets hot and no fire. There's only residual heat on the burner for a bit after use. I would never go back. Your family would be safe! If you ever decide to renovate again... :-D Of course by then the girls may be all grown up!
I first tried an induction cooker while in Japan on vacation. We rented a tiny apartment due to me being a celiac who is delightfully allergic to anything that swims in any water. So eating out in Japan is nearly impossible. Anywho, I fell in love with that cooker and when we both our new home that was one appliance I had to have. I don’t know why they aren’t more popular here in the States.
When I was a kid, we "toasted" marshmallows over an open fire set down in the bottom of a dry drainage ditch. We stuck them on the end of an unfurled wire coat hanger and thrust them into the flames until they flamed up themselves. The job was not done until we blew out their charred remains. We still ate them when they cooled.
Oh, and never try to microwave a sweet potato. They can catch fire inside the microwave. Ask me how I know. Well, don't. You probably already understand.
I just had a microwaved sweet potato for lunch. We microwave them all the time and I can’t imagine what caused yours to catch fire. Wash, poke some holes in the skin, set microwave for 5 minutes, done.
I looked it up at the time. Apparently, some sweet potatoes have a higher concentration of some minerals that can cause "arcing" and sparks. I just bake, boil, or put mine in a slow cooker now. Length of time in the microwave plays a part, too. Glad you had a better result than I did.
I am very envious of that fireplace (especially since I live in a studio!). There was an episode of Felicity where a guy builds a machine for toasting smores. Maybe something (or not) to look into.
My birthday is in summer and one time my parents took my birthday cake to the beach. They gave up trying to light it after going through a whole box of matches!
Matches are a cruel joke designed to make people waste their time and burn their fingers. We lit our fire pit last night, but only after I gave up on matches and went out to buy a lighter stick.
For one, I’d be super nervous about roasting marshmallows over my gas fire pit with children. I’ve never roasted them where a few don’t wind up in the fire and I don’t want to try and clean melted marshmallows out of pretty rocks and a burner. 🫣 I’d totally vote for the microwave or the smokeless pit. Technically you could roast them over an oven burner but again….melted marshmallow.
Your mantle is gorgeous. With or without a fire. You are wise not to use it without a full inspection first. I lost a grandfather when he walked into a house that was filled with gas and lit a match. Blew the place up. It was before they added scent to natural gas so he didn’t know.
Camping smores are the best smores so I say pitch a tent out back and build a campfire pit 🤗
Your fire sources are bigger than what we have here, and the fireplace is from the beauty league that only my grandparents' house one can submit into! But we do use ours, as it helps to reduce heating bills during winters. For grilling, we use campfire circle in the scarp. As for outside fire pits, only my uncle has a gas-powered grill, which he uses to make steaks. It is also a witness of my legendary cleaning back when I was fifteen and easily angered. During a family vacation uncle told me to clean it. I didn't want to and made it poorly, which he commented aloud in a way that infuriated me so much I began to wash it and scrub the burns as if I was possessed. Back then rage was my fuel to get stuff done, but I channeled it so well the adults joked about pissing me off each Saturday after assigning chores.
When it comes to the most recent fire (both literally from pyro and metaphorically from energy of chanting fans) I enjoyed was the one on the stands at Friday's game, which resulted in victory and promotion to the top level after four years for my football/soccer club, Wisła Kraków!
For the record, microwave s'mores are NOT OK and are NOT THE SAME. You need the charred taste on the outside of the marshmallow for an authentic s'more. I like to hold mine over the flames until the middle melts, then catch the outside briefly on fire and blow it out. Perfection.
The people are on your side, but this is a house of science. I prefer the precision only the microwave can provide - when it's not starting fires.
If you don't care about taste, why not just buy a jar of marshmallow creme and spread it on your chocolate?
Microwaved S'more are a waste of good chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows.
I like my gas fireplace when I'm cocooned on the couch. It warms the room and I do not have to run the heater to warm up rooms I am not using!
Your fireplace is stunning!
You need one of those indoor s'mores maker thingies. I bought one for my mom and she loved it!
We have a gas insert for our fireplace and we use it a ton in the colder months. It really produces some heat and makes such a cozy ambience in our cold downstairs TV room, and the cats love lounging in front of it. You could invite some pigs in to enjoy yours if you hooked it up. ;-)
We have an induction stove (super popular in Europe) that is a glass surface but only heats the receptacle you're using and cooks like gas. So it never gets hot and no fire. There's only residual heat on the burner for a bit after use. I would never go back. Your family would be safe! If you ever decide to renovate again... :-D Of course by then the girls may be all grown up!
I'll have to look into the indoor s'mores cooker. I've fallen behind on dessert technology.
I first tried an induction cooker while in Japan on vacation. We rented a tiny apartment due to me being a celiac who is delightfully allergic to anything that swims in any water. So eating out in Japan is nearly impossible. Anywho, I fell in love with that cooker and when we both our new home that was one appliance I had to have. I don’t know why they aren’t more popular here in the States.
I know! I absolutely love ours!
When I was a kid, we "toasted" marshmallows over an open fire set down in the bottom of a dry drainage ditch. We stuck them on the end of an unfurled wire coat hanger and thrust them into the flames until they flamed up themselves. The job was not done until we blew out their charred remains. We still ate them when they cooled.
Oh, and never try to microwave a sweet potato. They can catch fire inside the microwave. Ask me how I know. Well, don't. You probably already understand.
I've microwaved many regular potatoes but no sweet ones. Now I'm curious.
I just had a microwaved sweet potato for lunch. We microwave them all the time and I can’t imagine what caused yours to catch fire. Wash, poke some holes in the skin, set microwave for 5 minutes, done.
I looked it up at the time. Apparently, some sweet potatoes have a higher concentration of some minerals that can cause "arcing" and sparks. I just bake, boil, or put mine in a slow cooker now. Length of time in the microwave plays a part, too. Glad you had a better result than I did.
I love your fireplace. It makes mine weep in comparison. It's gorgeous.
Watch out. It tricked me into buying an entire house.
I am very envious of that fireplace (especially since I live in a studio!). There was an episode of Felicity where a guy builds a machine for toasting smores. Maybe something (or not) to look into.
My birthday is in summer and one time my parents took my birthday cake to the beach. They gave up trying to light it after going through a whole box of matches!
Matches are a cruel joke designed to make people waste their time and burn their fingers. We lit our fire pit last night, but only after I gave up on matches and went out to buy a lighter stick.
For one, I’d be super nervous about roasting marshmallows over my gas fire pit with children. I’ve never roasted them where a few don’t wind up in the fire and I don’t want to try and clean melted marshmallows out of pretty rocks and a burner. 🫣 I’d totally vote for the microwave or the smokeless pit. Technically you could roast them over an oven burner but again….melted marshmallow.
Your mantle is gorgeous. With or without a fire. You are wise not to use it without a full inspection first. I lost a grandfather when he walked into a house that was filled with gas and lit a match. Blew the place up. It was before they added scent to natural gas so he didn’t know.
Camping smores are the best smores so I say pitch a tent out back and build a campfire pit 🤗
The campfire seems to add something magical to the flavor. Sadly, it also taints our clothes for all time. I'll have to pass.
Yeah I forgot to comment about WHAT'S WRONG WITH LOLA THAT SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE SMELL OF WOODSMOKE - IT'S AWESOME!
Okay, you call yourself a Hoosier, you have a yard, but you don't have a proper fire pit? You might have to move back to Illinois.
I have TWO fire pits. They're just not very good. Quantity over quality, right?
Okay, I'll let you pass, this time. 😁
😂😂
Your fire sources are bigger than what we have here, and the fireplace is from the beauty league that only my grandparents' house one can submit into! But we do use ours, as it helps to reduce heating bills during winters. For grilling, we use campfire circle in the scarp. As for outside fire pits, only my uncle has a gas-powered grill, which he uses to make steaks. It is also a witness of my legendary cleaning back when I was fifteen and easily angered. During a family vacation uncle told me to clean it. I didn't want to and made it poorly, which he commented aloud in a way that infuriated me so much I began to wash it and scrub the burns as if I was possessed. Back then rage was my fuel to get stuff done, but I channeled it so well the adults joked about pissing me off each Saturday after assigning chores.
When it comes to the most recent fire (both literally from pyro and metaphorically from energy of chanting fans) I enjoyed was the one on the stands at Friday's game, which resulted in victory and promotion to the top level after four years for my football/soccer club, Wisła Kraków!
Congrats to your football club! Your uncle has the best use of fire. There's nothing better than a grilled steak.
I prefer microwave s’mores. Scandalous, I know.
You're not alone!
That's just wrong 🤣😂🤣😂🤣