S'mores alternatives put the char in charcuterie

Nothing beats an ooey-gooey campfire s'more. Or maybe something does. The graham cracker-chocolate-marshmallow trio is a longtime summer favorite. Whether you like your marshmallow perfectly tanned or blackened by flames, s'mores are a near-perfect American treat. But there's a new fireside trend on the table, and it's being fueled by the immense popularity of charcuterie boards. Campfire charcuterie is the latest and greatest evolution of meat, cheese, and snack boards, and I can't say that I'm the least bit surprised. Softening a chunk of cheddar, a Babybel, or a mini-brie wheel on a skewer over the campfire holds a certain appeal for diehard cheeseheads like me who enjoy their salty a little more than their sweet. Add a slice of pepperoni or prosciutto between two crackers or on a toasted slice of baguette and it's a high-tier savory version of s'mores. Topping your stack of deliciousness with thin slices of fruit like pear or apple and a drizzle of hot honey can take it up another notch on the scale of fancy. Ooh-la-la. Or try this idea for a savory treat: Wrap a mini-cheese wheel in a piece of pizza dough with a pepperoni and roast until dough is cooked through and cheese is melty. Dip into pizza sauce. Those looking for even more smoky culinary adventure can try roasting a few of these other suggestions that have been hitting social media feeds: Pizza rolls Cinnamon rolls Rice Krispies treats Uncrustables Dinner rolls Taquitos Mozzarella sticks Jalapeno poppers Personally, I'm dying to try the jalapeno popper and the mozzarella stick, which they say is best done from a frozen state. Eating appetizers for dinner has always been one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Skillet cooking over a campfire is also a popular and tasty way to enjoy summertime meals. Charcuterie options for the skillet include this recipe for campfire brie dip that sounds like a version of smoky cheesy heaven: Add oil to a skillet and set in a wheel of brie. Score the brie with deep cuts. Add grapes (remove from vine) and/or a mixture of berries and sliced peaches around the brie. Sprinkle with fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme (without stems), if desired, or seasoning of choice. Drizzle with hot honey and sprinkle with chopped nuts for texture. Cook over the fire until the cheese melts and the fruit sizzles. Toast a baguette or use hearty crackers to dip into the melty cheese. With so many delicious ideas, the campfire may just become your best summertime appliance. And hey, there's always the classic s'mores if you want to end the gnoshing with a yummy dessert.