The end of a Book & S'mors Cookie Balls / 6-24-2020

      So on this long road we have finally come to a end of this journey. I am at a point that it is time to give this a rest, a break. Many things have happened that brought this to forwishen, but the biggest was finally finding out that the owner, and editor off CapeCodToday.com Mr Robert Fellows had passed away unexpectedly back on February at the age of 59 ( see his Obituary in the CapeCodTimes or legacy.com) I first started this thing the August that Walter Brooks of Brewster started this thing called CapeCodToday.com in 1998 (Walter passed away August 12, 2018 at the age of 87). He used to tell people I was one of his most prolific writers. This used to crack me up, but was very humbled by it as well. A mid-western at the age of 37 who had been vacationing here on the Cape since 1965 with his folks and wanted so badly to move here permanently. My father the pastor was the one who graduated college with a degree in English, me I could hardly make a proper sentence let alone spell half my word right. Thank heavens for spell check now, and that does not always help, and my sentence structures probably still makes a good English teacher cringe. I never claimed to be good at, just a person who wanted to share stories about this place he loved so much. Then in 2012 I got the opportunity to move here and make it my home. Over the years I have learned, one does not always have 1000 different stories, or we may but only to find out you have 10 stories and 990 variations of those 10. I added the recipes along the way to make it more interesting and to add something that was and still is a passion of mine, cooking, and I have been blessed to have a family that will try just about anything. I brought on the old lighthouse guy at the life saving station. I loved that old koot he was a hoot to me. I saw days of readership that were out of this world and days that were lean. But I have always had at least someone who has read and bared the writing of this blogger, if nothing else for than a laugh. I hope you have enjoyed these last number of year, the stories, the tips, the encouragements, the depiction of life of an average guys life here on Cape Cod and to share a few good times and some of the bad. Thank you to all who have stayed with me all these years, and I hope that if I do decide to bring this back in another form. Until then, or until we meet on down the road, have yourself a great and wonderful, especially if you can do it right here on old Cape Cod. And remember we do actually live in a very special place, take care if it and your neighbors and may we find harmony with one another and with this wonderful place God has allowed us to be part of.      

      Small & Local Business report: For this last blog, I really want that thank you special businesses, They have helped me more than any other businesses, put with my insistent bugs for information, fed me with into that I could pass on and have turned out to be great acquaintances and friends. There are many others that I have just become friends due to stalking them at arts & craft shows and fairs, and others have actually found me writing about them without their knowledge. There was only 1 time that I was offered a dinner to write about a restaurant, and made that known right up front, but other than that, I never profited from, never asked for anything, and never expected anything. This was my way of giving back to the community and help spread the word about great local artists, artistens, crafters and local businesses. Promote year round eateries to seasonal joints I tried to do my best. I live in the South Dennis so I have a great vantage being half way in between Hyannis and Orleans, and Falmouth/Sandwich and P'Town. So being able to go places and try new things and places, I was able to do on a regular bases. Thank you again to all who I have gotten to know and share. Those special businesses are Truro Vineyards and the Roberts family, Kristen and David and their genuine care for helping me and allowing their staff pass on information to me, https://trurovineyardsofcapecod.com/ located just off of Rt 6 in North Truro. Second is Cape Cod Beer, my thanks to The Marcus Family, Todd and Beth for allowing their staff to pass on info, https://capecodbeer.com/ located in Hyannis off Phinney's Lane. One last one as honorable mention and that would be Lindsey and Jenn from Washershore Jewlery at /washershore.com/. Thank you in more way to them for their concern, tenderness and care then I can every mention. They will be at the Hyannis Shanties, this coming weekend. Tell them the Cape Cod Rockhopper said to say hi. 

      To all the rest and there are way to many and not near enough time to say thank you, and as this crazy pandemic times passes, and we get back to live as it should be, and we can survive all the rest going on in the world, I will be back on the arts tour with the craft shows with my paintings and maybe even find a gallery that will take me on. But until then try your best to a great and wonderful especially if you can do it on old Cape Cod.    

      Well for my last recipe for this blog, I think this one is a must have for summer time. I have always loved S'mores, roasting marshmallows, and that wonderful mix of chocolate, and graham crackers smashed with oowie gooey goodness, and no bake to boot. I hope you take these recipe that I have shared over the years and add your own touches, found new likings, and challenged you to think outside the pot and pan of normalcy. Please do not stop cooking, and remember you want to live to cook not cook to just live. Enjoy eating while eating to enjoy, Get healthy in your cooking and remember just cause it is lower calories, less sugar and salt does not mean it has to taste like cardboard. Find cookbooks that match your style, cross check the internet and for goodness sake fight to get grandma's recipes, but don't hord them, share them. I may be back in another form, sometime in the future, but for now I need a break from everything. Thank you for reading, for trying and for trying the bad, the good, and the fantastic with me over the years. Here's to happy eatings. Now on with the recipe of the week: 

      This week's recipe; S'Mores Cookie Balls

      3      cups      graham crackers crushed

      8      oz          marshmallow fluff
      3      Tbsp      butter melted
      1      cup        Dark Chocolate Melting Chocolate.
      2      extra      graham crackers crushed for topping

      Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside, (trust me this will help in a big way) Crush graham crackers, (some use a food processor, I just a rolling pin over crackers in a plastic bag).  Pour crumbs into a medium mixing bowl Add marshmallow fluff and melted butter. Stir until it starts to combine. Once it starts to stick together, using your hands, knead the fluff and crackers together. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of mixture, you can use a cookie dough scooper to make the job easy, I then roll them into balls at this time then place on pan with parchment paper. Once done, set pan in the fridge for 10-15 minutes and let it harden. (Some find it easier to scoop and chill first then roll into balls, just depends how set your "dough". 

      While the bites are chilling, melt chocolate according to package directions. until chocolate is completely melted. Then dip the bottom 1/2 of the bite into the melted chocolate, set back on parchment paper to let chocolate harden. Continue with remaining bites. Once chocolate has hardened, dip the top 1/2 in the chocolate, gently shaking off extra, then immediately place wet chocolate side up, and sprinkle with additional graham cracker crumbs. Repeat with remaining bites. Once the bites are dipped and sprinkled, allow chocolate to harden.

    (please note that I found this in a new paper clipping that came from some time ago, and I found online and in Pinterest. So who had it first not sure, So to whomever, a major thank you as these things are tasty and fun to make.)