The Homestead

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A Southern Parenting Tale: Making S'mores a Family Summer Tradition

It's been awhile since I've shared a southern parenting tale.  Since we are at the midpoint of summer, I thought I would share our new family tradition with you, and tell you why I'm calling S'mores, "The Dessert of the Summer."




You know. There is always some song declared as the “song of the summer.”  Of course, I can’t tell you what that particular song is for the summer of 2013. In fact, I can’t name songs of the summer for past years, either.

But I can tell you the dessert of the summer.  And in my house, it is the S’more.  Yes, good, old-fashioned S’mores.  Nothing fancy.  Just marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate. 
So how did a S’more, something that has been around for decades, all of a sudden become the “it” dessert of the summer?


Last year, I did a family travel feature on the beautiful Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.  At night, families sit around the massive fire pit and make S’mores.  Kids run around in their golf shirts and best sundresses on the lush, green lawn. They stop only when it’s time to make the S’mores.  It was really a lot of fun and a great memory.

I definitely can’t wait to return to the Homestead one day to do all of that again, but this year we decided to bring a little bit of the Homestead to our own homestead.


We now have a small firepit in our backyard. 

S’mores are now our dessert choice of the summer.  We don’t do it often, and, because of that, it is still looked upon as a treat, kind of like going to the Homestead.

We’ve done it a couple of times with our extended family, and it was a fun, special time.  I definitely think we are making cherished memories with the kids.


But the other night, as some “song of the summer” was playing on Pandora, I was home alone with kids while my husband worked. I really craved a rich, gooey S’more.

Could I possibly?

Yeah, I wasn’t about to start a fire.

We made indoor S’mores.

Making indoor S’mores may not be as fun as making them in the fire pit, but they are still good.  And you can make one in half the time.

Hmmm!  And I wonder why my behind looks like a marshmallow. 

Hines S’mores (Fire Pit not needed)

I large marshmallow
I graham cracker, cut in half
1 mini bar of chocolate or 1 bar broken off a larger bar of chocolate.
Heat marshmallow for 10 to 12 seconds in microwave.  Carefully place it on graham cracker. Add bar of chocolate. Top it with another graham cracker. Mash it, and enjoy.  It tastes just like the ones made in the fire pit.

You may also like a S’mores cupcake recipe that has also been featured on the blog by Mandi McClure of Southern Gnome. 

Enjoy the dessert of the summer!  I know I do.


This piece was originally written for my TriangleMom2Mom column that runs every Wednesday. But, with everyone on vacation for the Fourth of July holiday, no one saw it so I'm sharing it here, too. 


Also, be sure to join us for Instagram Travel Thursday this week.  You can read  more about the link-up on Skimbaco Lifestyle.  Join us. 
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A Southern Parenting Tale: Making S'mores a Family Summer Tradition
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Juicy Tidbits Plus One Last Summer Trip

Last month, I did my first juicy tidbits post, and I thought it was fun.  It’s a good way for me to share fun snippets of information with you.

Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I eat lunch out quite frequently. It seems like I’ve been searching for the perfect Cobb Salad, or perhaps you may think that is all I eat at lunch based on my photos.

The Cobb Salad at Sunflowers Cafe in Raleigh, N.C.



The Cobb Salad at Serendipity Gourmet Deli  in Cary, N.C.


Well, I’ve not found the perfect Cobb Salad yet for me, but I have found the perfect Cobb Salad roll-up.  It’s at Roly-Poly. It’s my favorite roll-up, and I think I could eat this roll-up daily.



I crave it.  There is a Roly-Poly within five minutes of my house, and you can find me there quite often.  You must know I love it because it’s located in the same parking lot where I did $2,000 in damage to my car bumper last month.  I keep going back.  Yes, they know my family by name, but they have no idea that I’m a blogger who is now professing my love for the roll-up.

I almost thought about getting a Cobb Salad at Fleming’sSteakhouse when Will and I went out with our good friends to celebrate her birthday.


I just didn’t want to pay $27 for it, but Will later joked that it probably would have been the best Cobb Salad that I’ve ever eaten.  That’s true, but it is still a salad.  I just can’t grasp that price for one salad.  Instead, I ordered a filet-risotto small-plate and a salad for the same price as the Cobb salad, plus I enjoyed three margarita specials, too. I am a fan of Fleming’s and think it is one of the better high-end steakhouses in the Triangle.  Even though Fleming’s is a national chain, it’s locally owned and operated, and the owners have a stake in the community. You know I like to support local business.  It was also nice that they gave my friend a gift certificate for a return visit and some truffles.  Nice touch!



I attended a tourism event for North Carolina this week.  It was great to learn so much more about my home state.  I knew I was in love with my state before Tuesday, and now I know I love it even more.  I cannot wait to travel more for this blog.  North Carolina has so much to offer its guests. Some readers have joked and said that I’m the state’s newest ambassador.  I’ve always wanted to be an ambassador, so who will make me a a tiara and sash that says so?


On Skimbaco this week, I talked a little more about my staycation in Durham and how to treat every local destination as if you are on vacation.  While there, we dined at Guglhupf.  Loved it. The cheese dish with figs was phenomenal, and I really like German beer.  I felt as if I had been transported to Munich again. I recommend the restaurant highly.
  

As much as I love North Carolina, I have decided to venture to another state this month for one last vacation before school starts. We’re packing our bags and are heading to Virginia.  

We’ll be staying at the historic Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.  As soon as I saw this grand, Tudor-style, former railroad hotel, I knew this is where I had to stay while in the area. Did you know I am a sucker for Tudor-style architecture?  It’s my favorite.  We’ll be checking out some of the sights in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Roanoke Valley. 



And then we’ll be checking into this genteel beauty for a couple of days for a family resort vacation.


Our destination is The Homestead, a luxury resort and spa in Hot Springs, Virginia.  Thomas Jefferson walked these grounds, and the Hines will, too.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for some sneak peeks of these resorts, as well as scenes from the beautiful Allegheny Mountains. 

Have a great weekend!


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Juicy Tidbits Plus One Last Summer Trip
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Wednesday’s Wish We Were Here: The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va

To celebrate Summer’s arrival, it’s time for us to take a little midweek escape. Today’s destination is rich with Southern history and has been welcoming guests since 1766.

The Homestead is such a grand resort
All images are courtesy of The Homestead

The Homestead, a luxury resort and spa nestled in the Virginia countryside and surrounded by the splendor of the Allegheny Mountains, is an ideal place for families to relax, unwind, and have some fun. This summer will be no exception because the resort is adding new amenities as part of a $25 million revitalization plan. The first phase, Allegheny Springs, consists of new outdoor pools, including a children’s pool, whirlpools, and a sandy beach.  These new pools are now open and are ready for some big-time summer splashing.


New Pool area at Allegheny Springs


The second and final phase of Allegheny Springs will open in August, and it will include 100-foot water slides, a 400-foot lazy river, and private cabanas.
 
The revitalization plan is very impressive, and later phases for the summer include an 18-hole miniature golf course inspired by the resort’s renowned Cascades Course and a new natural hot-springs spa garden for adults only.

The new spa garden is slated to open August 4, 2012

In Hot Springs, Virginia, which the Homestead Resort calls home, there are natural hot springs known for their soothing, healing properties. In fact, Thomas Jefferson bathed in the natural springs in 1818 and spent three weeks at the Homestead’s mountain spa soaking three times a day in the gentlemen’s pool.  The Homestead’s spa today is more luxurious than ever. 


The Homestead has the honor of operating the first spa in the U.S. 


 It even has a kid’s spa menu where your little one can get a vanilla cupcake pedicure, and the strawberries and cream manicure.  How’s that for pampering?

If you like active vacations or quiet ones, then the Homestead Resort will be the perfect resort for you.  The activities are endless. The Homestead is offering special packages all summer.  As a special perk, they also have a kid’s club for ages 3 to 12, where your little ones can participate in a wide variety of supervised activities all day.  You know I’m a big fan of those!


Your traditional, Southern, luxury hotel room awaits you at the Homestead Resort. 


Look! They left tea out for me in my future room. 



I think I’ll “pack my bags” and head that way later this summer.  Traditional afternoon tea starts at 3 p.m. I'm so there.  My son wants to hit the miniature golf course as soon as it opens in mid-August.  What do you want to do? Want to try your hand at horseback riding, or fishing? 

Want to Go:
The Homestead, a Luxury Resort and Spa
7696 Sam Snead Highway
Hot Springs, VA


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Wednesday’s Wish We Were Here: The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va
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