Soft and Gooey Loaded S’mores Bars

MLK Day. The plant was closed Monday. The first paid MLK Day in the UAW contract took years to get. I took Aiden to the day-of-service cleanup at the rec center. We picked up trash on the route to Mumford. We had lunch at Mama's after.

Pop's in the recliner. Tigers on. Sugar in range this week. Sunday at Mama's. She made greens with hambone the way she has since 1985.

Pot of chili Saturday. Beef and beans. Cayenne, ancho, cumin, smoked paprika. Slow simmer four hours.

Aiden's 10. The youth basketball league. I'm coaching. He's the best player on the team and he knows it. Zaria's 8. Helps me cook on a step stool. Has opinions about the seasoning.

I went to bed Sunday at 10. Slept eight hours. The body said thank you.

Mr. Williams across the street had a heart scare. He is okay. We are all watching each other now. I took him a plate of greens and chicken Wednesday. He said, "DeShawn. You're a good neighbor." I said, "We're even, Mr. Williams. You shoveled my walk in 2024." He laughed.

The block had a small drama Tuesday. Somebody parked in front of Ms. Diane's driveway. Ms. Diane addressed it directly. The car moved within the hour. The neighborhood polices itself on small things.

Aiden had practice Tuesday and Thursday. I drove. He shot threes for an hour after.

Filled the propane tank Wednesday. The smoker is the only appliance I baby. Wiped it down. Checked the gaskets. Checked the temperature gauge. The smoker is mine the way Pop's torque wrench was his.

Pop sat in the recliner Sunday. He fell asleep before the third quarter. We covered him with a blanket.

The grass came in fast this week. Cut it Saturday morning before the heat. The mower had been sitting all winter. Took three pulls to start. Once it ran, it ran. Some things just need patience.

I took a walk around the block Sunday morning. The neighborhood was quiet. The trees were the trees. The light was good. I waved at three porches. The porches waved back. Brookline holds.

The custody calendar holds. Aiden and Zaria alternate weeks. Brianna and I co-parent without drama now. We do not always have to like each other to do this right.

I made grocery lists on the back of envelopes the way Mama did. The list this week was short — onions, garlic, half-and-half, cornmeal, a pound of bacon. The list is the recipe of the week before it happens.

Plant ran clean this week. The line ran. The body held. The paycheck is the paycheck.

The basketball court at the rec center got refurbished. New floor. Plays different. Bouncy. I shot a few from the elbow before practice Wednesday. The knee held. The shot fell short.

The kids next door knocked over my trash cans Tuesday night. Their dad made them help me clean up Wednesday morning. Good man. The kids apologized. I gave them each a Capri Sun. Cycle complete.

Watched the Tigers Sunday afternoon. Lost in extras. Detroit reflex. I yelled at the TV the way Pop used to yell at the TV. The TV did not respond. The bullpen will probably not respond either.

The Lions on TV Sunday. Lost on a missed field goal. Detroit. The neighborhood collectively groaned at the same moment. You could hear it through the windows.

Truck needed an oil change Saturday. Did it myself in the driveway. Took an hour. The neighbor across the street gave me a thumbs-up from his porch. I gave him one back. Detroit men do not waste words on car maintenance.

The chili was already handled — beef, beans, four hours on the stove, Zaria standing on her step stool calling for more cayenne like she’s been doing it for years. But after a week where Pop slept peaceful under his blanket, Mr. Williams laughed on his porch, and the neighborhood held itself together the way it always does, I wanted something on the sweeter side for the kids. These s’mores bars are what Zaria and I make when the hard part of the week is done. She presses the crust. She has opinions about the marshmallow ratio. She’s right every time.

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 28 min | Total Time: 43 min (plus cooling) | Servings: 16 bars

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 16 full crackers)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
6 full-size milk chocolate bars (1.55 oz each), broken into pieces
3 cups mini marshmallows, divided
8 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreos), roughly crushed
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
2 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

Preheat and prepare. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides for easy lifting. Lightly grease the parchment.
Make the crust. In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt until the mixture resembles wet sand and holds together when pressed. Transfer to the prepared pan and press into an even, firm layer across the bottom.
Bake the crust. Bake for 10 minutes, until just set and lightly golden at the edges. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes — leave the oven on.
Layer the chocolate. Scatter the broken milk chocolate bar pieces evenly over the warm crust, followed by 1 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Let sit 2 minutes, then gently spread the melting chocolate into an even layer with an offset spatula.
Add the loaded toppings. Scatter the crushed sandwich cookies and peanut butter chips evenly over the chocolate layer. Top with 2 cups of the mini marshmallows, pressing them lightly so they adhere.
Bake until golden. Return the pan to the oven and bake 15–18 minutes, until the marshmallows are puffed and golden brown on top. Watch the edges — the marshmallows near the sides will color first.
Make the chocolate drizzle. While the bars are still hot, combine the remaining 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and the heavy cream in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth. Drizzle over the top with a spoon.
Finish and cool. Scatter the remaining 1 cup mini marshmallows over the drizzle while everything is still warm. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan — at least 1 hour at room temperature, or 30 minutes in the refrigerator — before lifting out and cutting into 16 bars.

Nutrition (per serving)

Soft and Gooey Loaded S’mores Bars — The Sweetness You Cook When the Week Earned It