Yankee-Belle Cafe

Missy Tippens

A couple of weeks ago, we got together with all of our kids and their significant others at our son and his wife's new home. The pandemic hit about the time they put an offer on the house--which made things crazy. But they were able to close on it at the end of March. I was the only one who'd seen it in person (when I delivered cloth masks to them right after they moved in), so this was a nice house warming event for everyone!

Nick and his wife Sarah planned to grill out for us. My daughter, because she'd seen photos of the house on Zillow and knew they had a fire pit, decided she wanted to bring the makings for s'mores. :)

I just thought I'd share some photos with you today. I took quite a few of the flowers and plants in their new yard. The former homeowner had apparently been a gardener--a very nice benefit!





Blackberries, I think!



I love that they have this water catcher under the downspout to use for lawn watering.


Any idea what this is below? Maybe related to honeysuckle? It smelled good but not quite like honeysuckle.


My three kids getting competitive! 


My grand-dogs, resting in their new yard. After living in a 4th floor apartment in mid-town Atlanta for the past couple of years, they're loving having a yard again!



 Auntie is loving some snuggles from her nephew. 


The new kitchen! My hubby and Nick trying to stay 6 feet apart. :) Sarah cooking.


Middle son and his girlfriend got to come, too!



After our outdoor dinner and a walk through the new neighborhood, it was s'more time! For those who don't know what s'mores are... you roast a marshmallow over an open fire, then put it on a graham cracker with a Hershey's chocolate bar, and then top with another graham cracker. A wonderfully sweet, melty, gooey sandwich!


Caught my daughter and her boyfriend in mid-bite. She will kill me for sharing this photo. :)


I'll end with this one of me. My kids were making fun of me because I spent so much time taking photos. So they took a photo of me taking one. :)


We had a great time! It was so nice to be together. I look forward to the next opportunity.

www.missytippens.com

Well, she did it.

A little less than six months ago she said "yes."

Photo credit: Magnified Photography

And this weekend she said "I do."


This was a marriage made in heaven, and all of the happy couple's friends and family are celebrating along with them!

The ceremony was beautiful and worshipful, with the message being the image of marriage as an example of Christ and His bride, the church. There were hymns, scripture reading, exchanging of vows, exchanging of rings...

...the kiss, of course...

...and our pastor pronouncing them husband and wife.

And then the most perfect recessional music ever to celebrate this awesome event:



And yes, since you're asking, it is a bit quieter around the house. :) I had the rare privilege of having breakfast with Carrie almost every morning during the time she and Josh were dating and through their engagement.

Believe me, a lot of wedding planning got done over a couple cups of yogurt!

But since this is the Cafe, I know you're dying to know what we served at the reception, right?

The wedding was at 1:30, and the reception was very simple and fun.

First there was retro bottled pop on ice (sorry, didn't get a picture!). All of the bride's and groom's favorites: Faygo Red Pop, Vernors, Fanta Orange, Faygo Rock'n'Rye... Do you see a trend? Both Carrie and Josh are proud of their Michigan roots!

Then there was a table full of chips and salsa.


We had three kinds of chips: blue corn, Tostitos Scoops, and On the Border tortilla chips. And then three choices of salsa: verde, peach-mango, and tomato.

And of course, there was the cake!


Carrie's wedding colors were blush and navy blue, and the combination worked perfectly!

But the hit of the reception?


The S'mores Bar!

Guests roasted their marshmallows over the sterno flames using fondue forks. Then they had their choice of crackers: graham, chocolate graham, and cinnamon graham. And then their choice of chocolate: Hershey's chocolate, Hershey's Cookies and Cream, and Reese's peanut butter cups.

The line for this table was long!

And since every wedding needs to have something to make it memorable, Saturday was a day of record-breaking heat. 103° at wedding time!

We were in an air conditioned church, but man. It was hot.

But what does it matter? They are now Mr. and Mrs., and that's the most important thing!

So, share your wedding story! What is the most memorable thing that has happened at a wedding you've attended?

I didn't realize, until I found marshmallows I could eat because they didn't contain corn syrup, how much I had missed those little rounded squares of white gooey, vanilla sweetness. Finding  Dandies Marshmallows changed my life. They have no gelatin like other corn free marshmallows so they melt like the regular marshmallows do. They brown like marshmallows do. They even catch fire like marshmallows do!

Yep, I had to prove Catching Fire wasn't just an idle claim or only a book/movie title.

With my new marshmallows, I can make s'mores again, if I can find wheat free graham crackers or something I like as well. The thing I loved best about Girl Scouts after the camping trips. In fact, I quit Girl Scouts when the troop I was in decided NOT to do as many camping trips. What was the point?

This is my Girl Scout sash. It was pretty cool to be in the Nations Capital region.

The first printed S’mores recipe appeared in 1927 in the Girl Scout handbook called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.  Rumor has it the chocolate, graham cracker and marshmallow “S’mores” name came from campers asking for “some more.”  Sigh, I am still searching for graham cracker substitutes. I know I can use GF cookies but it isn't quite the same. Better refer back to my new traditions post for encouragement.

Crackerless s'more. So sad.

But there was one treat from my childhood I could make! Rice Krispie Treats. Except I can't call them that because the name is trademarked and I use other gluten free cereal as an ingredient. The original recipe was developed by two women, Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day, Kelloggs home economists, in 1939 using Campfire marshmallows to create a fundraiser for another girls' organization, Camp Fire Girls.

The original name was Marshmallow Squares. Soon the bars were more than a fundraiser, they were a wartime morale booster, sent in WWII care packages across the globe due to their stability and cereal ingredients. The gooey treat (I like the word gooey a little too much) have been a childhood treat ever since.  You can find the original recipe here.

For years, I'd watched folks eat marshmallow treats or pops on a stick. The memories of making them with my mom was so strong. But I needed corn free marshmallows. Years passed and then? Tah dah! When I found Dandies, oh, the joy! But I only make a small batch so I don't binge!

I used an 8X8 pan. Oh, that missing corner? Well, I had to make sure they tasted all right!

Recipe (for an 8X8 pan):

Melt three tablespoons butter on low. Note: I used three tablespoons instead of half that because I discovered my marshmallows seemed to melt better with more butter. Start with three tablespoons if you are doubling the recipe and add more as needed.

Add 1/2 bag Dandies marshmallows and stir until melted. Stir constantly so the marshmallow doesn't burn and the butter doesn't brown. 

Add approximately 3 cups rice cereal gradually. It can turn into a ball in no time so work quickly.

Butter an 8X8 pan (9X13 for double) and press cereal mixture into pan using parchment or wax paper, spreading evenly. Let cool if you can wait that long. 

I love them but, boy, are they a lot sweeter than I remember! Small squares are best!

PS. Every Thanksgiving,  we are marshmallow on sweet potatoes/sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows people. Now I can too.

PPS. Don't go to Pinterest. Too many cute marshmallow craft ideas! Treat this recipe like you would the regular recipe. Add holiday sprinkles, ice with chocolate etc.

Are you a marshmallow fan or foe? Do you have a favorite recipe using marshmallows?