Springtime. The first grill of the season. As the lone charcoal griller in the neighborhood, my bar-b-q grilled chicken smells mixed with the fresh mown grass brought back memories of a long ago day.

As my son did the dishes (for after all isn't that the reason we have children?) I toasted marshmallows for my daughter and myself.

It takes a little practice to find the perfect spot of red-core, covered in grey charcoal. I remember having "sword" fights with my younger brother as we'd fight to the death of our marshmallow for that perfect spot in the grill.

But today I toasted alone. My daughter called out that she preferred her marshmallow golden brown.

And I got to thinking of all the different ways you can take that little rounded-square bit of sugar and prepare it for eating:

Not afraid to get a little sticky: Fresh out of the bag - squished between the forefinger and thumb of each hand to make stringy-soft taffy.

In a hurry: Up in flames - one quick dip into the flames until it looks like Nicholas Cage in his most recent movie - the inside still raw - burning your lips and tongue as you shove it - still smokin', in your mouth.

Patient and determined: Golden brown all the way around - even the top if you are careful.

Purist: out of the bag and straight into your mouth.

Likes a little summin' summin': toasted and squished between chocolate bars and graham crackers.

Modern: any of the above ways of preparation but with CHOCOLATE marshmallows.

Think about the way you like your marshmallows. Does it reflect your personality - your approach to life, to business?

I'm just thinking...

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Professional Writer, Lover of Variety
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