Oh What a Beautiful Day

Today is National Beach Day and Toasted Marshmallow Day. What a winning combination! As a native Californian, when I think beach I thing ocean waves, Gidget and Moon Doggie and Surfing USA.

Those iconic images of beach life is not because I grew up along the Southern California Coast, but because those are the images Hollywood has produced. I grew up watching Beach Blanket movies and wishing I could just hang out on the beach. In actuality, we did – just not an ocean beach. We were spending our summers at the lake. Back then, if you had a driver’s license, there weren’t the restrictions imposed today. Today if you are under 18, you cannot have minors in your car with the exception of siblings. In my day, we could pile as many teenagers as possible into a car and head to the lake for the day and a drive-in movie that night. We had freedoms kids today will never know.

Recently for Hubby’s birthday, I was reminded about how great it is to spend a day on the beach at a lake. We have lakes all around us, an easy drive for a day of fun. These days with the convenience of short term rentals, you could make a weekend of hanging out at the beach. Families need to spend more time outdoors just having fun. Rafting, swimming, having a picnic – just unplug and get outdoors. Playing sports is great for kids – exercise, instilling teamwork and the idea of winning with grace or loose with dignity. All good things, no doubt. But kids need to experience the great outdoors without an addenda, or schedule or purpose beyond breathing fresh air. So head to the nearest beach and have some fun.

Just don’t forget the toasted marshmallow!

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These treats are oh so rich and yummy. Between the chocolate of the brownies and the chips, there is an explosion of chocolate in every bite. The creamy melted marshmallows countered by the crunch of the shell is an amazing textural experience. Yeah, these are good!

S’Mores Brownie Tacos
12 Bite-Size Brownies
4 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Dessert Taco Shells
2 cups Mini-Chocolate Chips
2 cups Mini-Marshmallows

Note: Use your favorite mini-chocolate chip from Milk Chocolate to a Dark Chocolate.

Heat oven to 400-degrees. Line a rimmed baking pan with foil or parchment paper for easy clean up. Set pan aside.

Break or cut brownies into smaller pieces. Fill the bottom third of each dessert taco shell with brownie bits. Place shells on the prepared pan.

Top brownies with a scattering of chocolate chips followed by marshmallows. Place tacos in the oven to bake until chips melt and the marshmallows begin to roast.

Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes or cool enough to handle. Enjoy!

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Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.