My first s'mores

This was my first time making s'mores, and actually my first time eating s'mores.


They're supposed to be done over an open fire, but I used my propane grill, and a pie iron.


You could also do this in a pie iron over your stove.


The recipe is very simple:  Graham crackers, marshmallows and hershey chocolate bar.


Break the graham cracker in half.  Put a piece of hershey chocolate on one half.


Then add a large marshmallow and then the other half of the graham cracker to make a sandwich.


Put it in the pie iron and toast.


You definitely want a serving spatula to remove the s'mores from the very hot pie iron.


S'mores are very messy.


You could also make them in the oven on a cast iron wonder skillet.

my first experience with a pie iron

This is a square pie iron.

I recently wrote about the possibility of using two wonder skillets as a pie iron, which didn't exactly work out.

I had never used a real pie iron before, so I decided to try it out.

They're meant to be used over a campfire, but I used the stovetop.

I quickly realized that I should have used a back burner.

Because I used a front burner, I had to stand there and hold the handle; Otherwise it would have fallen off the stove.

I also realized that it might have been better to put the Lodge trivet on the burner underneath the pie iron, to help catch any drippings from the side.

I'm still up in the air about preheating the iron first.

I didn't this time, because I didn't want to risk burning myself when applying the food to the iron, nor risk overcooking the food.

But if I had preheated, it would have cooked faster. I'm still not sure; up to you.

There are many pie iron recipes out there, but I started with a basic grilled cheese sandwich.

Which would have certainly cooked faster on a preheated griddle, but anyway, it was fun.

I held the pie iron over the stove burner, turning over periodically and checking for doneness.

The grilled cheese sandwich, tasted like a grilled cheese sandwich. Which is good, if you like grilled cheese sandwiches.

Apparently you can cook all kinds of things in a pie iron.

Cast iron pie irons

These are cast iron pie irons. They are also called sandwich irons.

In Australia, they're called jaffle irons*. At first I thought that was a typo for waffle iron, but it's not.

*Apparently, jaffle irons have shorter handles, for stovetop cooking and smaller fires. Also, the handles can be removed for easier cleaning.

Most of them are round, square, or double square. They also have slotted ones, for grilling meats, and ones designed for hot dogs, waffles, and panini.

Square or round just depends on your personal preference. A double square can cook 2 sandwiches, or larger foods.

A round pie iron crimps the edges of the bread together to form a seal. The seal locks in flavor, which many prefer. A square pie iron cooks unsealed sandwiches.

Most of them are made from aluminum. Aluminum may be lighter and cheaper, but it can melt, and the teflon scratches.

Cast iron pie irons can be used in coals; Aluminum ones cannot.

Cast iron cooks much better, and can stand the high heat. You won't regret it!

They come apart, so they can be used as tiny skillets.

They would be great if all you could cook in them is hot sandwiches; But, they cook much more.

You can fill them with anything you want, and cook it. With or without bread or pie crust.

Lodge does not make them. Camp Chef and Old Mountain* make the basic designs-- round, square and double square.

*Old mountain pie irons do not come apart; The hinge is permanent.

Rome makes the widest variety of designs. I don't know that brand, but you can purchase them here.