The Slice: Secret ingredient is simply magical

Paul Turner is taking some time off this summer. In his absence, we dive into the archives at Slice Central. Today, we revisit June 27, 2004.

SPOKANE MOM ABBEY CRAWFORD was playing “camping” with her 4-year-old son, Mason. “So he’s telling me what we’re cooking over our campfire and we get to our favorite part — s’mores,” she said.

Mason pretended to hand her the ingredients for that classic confection. He called out the items, one by one. “Here you go, Mama,” he said. “Graham crackers, chocolate and mushrooms.”

When Crawford stopped laughing, she explained that traditionally s’mores call for marshmallows, not mushrooms.

But maybe Mason’s generation will come up with some bold new ideas for camping cuisine. Or perhaps the lad was thinking that standard s’mores are a bit tame, and maybe some hallucinogenic fungi might get them up on their feet.

JUST WONDERING: Have you ever noticed that at least some of those around here who root for hot weather spend almost all their time indoors?

SLICE ANSWERS (FALLING ASLEEP IN PUBLIC): “My son’s Boy Scout troop got to watch a simulated night water-rescue at Fairchild’s Survival School indoor pool,” wrote Barry Barfield. “It was very realistic with loud sounds of the crash, helicopter engines, search lights, radio conversations, et cetera.

“But it was also dark, humid and warm. I fell asleep, much to my son’s embarrassment.”

Judy Landberg has had a few unpleasant experiences in dentists’ chairs over the years. But she figures she must be over her fear.

Last week, during a root canal, she dozed off.

NEVER MIND: So I’m listening to the radio and an announcer refers to some scheduled happening at the “newsprint” store in Spokane. Is he talking about a newsstand, I wonder. Who ever heard of calling it a newsprint store?

Still, I love newsstands. And the idea of someone besides me getting excited about one is intriguing.

Then the announcer says it again: “New Sprint store.”

• THIS DATE AT EXPO ’74: Modern Jazz Quartet, with Spokane Symphony, Donald Thulean conducting.

SLICE READER MARY ANN WEST LOCALIZES A BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN LYRIC: “The highway’s jammed with road kill ….”