B-T-S

My favorite holiday is here.:  B-T-S.  That’s right boys and girls, its back to school time.  Where I come from school starts after Labor Day but here it starts in mid-August.   I always pitied those elementary school teachers having to sit in an enclosed classroom with 25 hot sweaty kids after recess in mid-August.  I just don’t get starting during the hottest days of the summer, but then again, nobody asked me.

 The issue with the start of a new school year is the adjustment.  After 10 weeks of staying up late and sleeping in and minimal obligations, we are all thrown into a schedule-driven life.  We all have to adjust.  No easing in.  One day there’s no school and the next day there is.

 We’ve had our share of abrupt adjustments, especially Younger Son.  When Younger Son was 4, I thought his hearing was impaired.  He didn’t always respond when I called and I just felt that something was wrong.  His Doctor said that Younger Son was just being obstinate.  I decided to test it.  On a few different occasions I called out for him to come get a Sundae, a present, go to the pool.  Nothing.  Obstinate my a** (butt).  I took him to an Audiologist and an ENT.  Younger Son wasn’t hearing properly, his tonsils and adenoids were too big for his throat, part of why he had a hard time keeping food down (The (Ongoing) Dinner Dilemma).  He needed surgery, and lots of it. 

 After the whole surgery ordeal the adjustment was intense.  The tubes in his ears not only helped stop the frequent infections, but helped with Younger Son’s balance issues.  Removal of the tonsils and adenoids allowed him to keep more food down.  In one month he gained 10 pounds, some semblance of a sense of balance, and an uncomfortable ability to hear things louder than he was used to.  The first time he got back into a pool and exerted the same amount of energy he always had, he went nowhere.  The poor kid was perplexed.  He was literally swimming in place, not moving forward at all.  Younger Son had to readjust to himself.  No easing in.  One day he was physically one person and the next it was truly like he was someone else.  

Wrong date but great sign!

picture used with permission: http://www.funnysigns.net/

The first time you send your youngest off to school is an adjustment as well.  I remember when Older Son was going into First Grade and Younger Son was about to start Kindergarten.  At "back-to-school day", a week before the first day of school, the Principal was trying to be supportive about the adjustment I faced.  He told me how many times over his years as Principal he’s seen Moms cry the first time they sent their youngest off to Kindergarten.  “Cry?” I said, “are you kidding, I’ll be dancing in the streets”.  Actually I had a number of friends with kids the same age as mine and we weren’t dancing in the streets.  We were at my house having a Champagne Brunch.  I’m dead serious.  Went over so well we did it for the next few years too.  Some people just adjust well.

 B-T-S, like most holidays, requires preparation.  There’s all the shopping that has to be done for clothes and supplies, schedules need to be picked up, lunch accounts re-opened.  Of course there’s a culinary build up as well.  I make all of their favorite meals, desserts and snacks for a solid week.  I think the reason I go all out has psychological roots in those Champagne brunches.  Do I feel guilty for being so happy about this occasion?  Or do I feel bad that I’m sending my problems 1/2 mile up the street for 8 hours a day?  Either way, my kitchen gets a work-out.  Win/win.

Strawberry Milk Cheesecake

Strawberry Milk Cheesecake

                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients, Crust:                                                  

 2 cups graham cracker crumbs                                         

1/2cup multicolored jimmies (sprinkles) 

2 Tbsp sugar

1 stick butter, melted

Ingredients, Filling: 
1 1/2 cups heavy cream        
1 (8 oz) pkg plus 1 (3 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened 
1 cup Nestles (25% less sugar) Strawberry Milk Drink Mix 
2 Tbsp sugar

Ingredients,Top:                                                                               
1/2 cup heavy cream 
2 Tbsp sugar 
Multicolored nonpareils

Directions, Crust:

*Mix together all crust ingredients making sure it is all well incorporated.   
*Press into and up the sides of a springform pan.

Directions, Filling:

*Beat cream cheese with Strawberry Milk powder and sugar to get it a little fluffy. 
*In another bowl, beat heavy cream until peaks just start to form.  Beat in cream cheese mixture and pour into the crust.

Directions, Top:

*Beat heavy cream with sugar.  Pipe onto cheesecake and sprinkle with nonpareils. 
*Freeze cheesecake.  To serve, move to refrigerator.  When it begins to thaw, run a knife carefully around the edges and remove the pan sides.  Can serve partially frozen or thawed.

Adapted from No Bake Strawberry Milk Cheesecake recipe from Sprinklebakes.com

NOTE:  I’ve said before that I do bake up my own recipes, but most frequently I use
others’ recipes as a starting point and adapt them to my taste and ability level.  I don’t think I’m alone. The more I find recipes to try, the more I find that they are adapted from other people’s recipes.  Sometimes I can follow them back 3 or 4 generations.  I don’t think that’s the case here, Sprinklebakes develops her own recipes.