My childhood period was a little odd compared to most other kids.  I preferred meat, fruit and even some vegetables to desserts.  I suspect that many of you mothers and fathers might be wishing that you had a perfect child like I was.  My preferences might have been related to the fact that my mother kept me on baby foods until I was twenty-eight.  In retrospect, I now recognize that none of the [major babyinfant] food companies squeeze a pureed slice of a fudge brownie into a little glass jar.

My candy consumption was also limited.  After I would come home from trick or treating every Halloween night, my mother would make me dump my goodies on the floor, where we would both seat ourselves, cross-legged.  We would sort my collection into three piles.  I didn’t really get to assign anything to a particular pile; I was mostly an observer in the annual ritual.  Into one of those piles would go everything that was made by the generous Mrs. Robertson.  Those went straight into the garbage, because Mom was sure that Mrs. Robertson let her fourteen cats walk all over the kitchen counters.  The second pile contained a couple of apples and a small box of raisins.  Those were deemed suitable for me.  I can’t say for certain what happened to the third grouping–the one that contained all the candy, the caramel apples and the popcorn balls.  As soon as the sorting was finished, my mom hastily took those into my parent’s bedroom.  They never again appeared.  The only time I ever was allowed to have candy was when I visited one pair of grandparents.  (My other grandparents only tried to give me buttermilk.  I resent cows to this day.)

In defense of my mother, I believe that this sort of behavior is taught in the top secret motherhood school.  I noticed that when my son was growing up, his mother hid all his candy after Halloween, too.  However my wife has never revealed the exact curriculum of this top secret school.

When I became a full fledged adult at the magical age of twenty-nine, I began to learn that applesauce, vegetables and meat in their natrual form do not really have the same texture.  I also discovered the wonders of dessert in the wonderful form of a gourmet cheesecake.  Well, I guess it really wasn’t gourmet.  It came from a discount food warehouse, in a flimsy box with a cellophane peep hole that revealed the only attractive portion of the product.  Remember that my taste buds had been accustomed to the miracle recipes of the baby food makers.  To me, the cheesecake was the definition of heaven.

Later in life, as I belatedly went through my experimental wild years, I learned that cheesecake could taste much less like cardboard than my first sample.  I also discovered that cheesecake can come in a variety of flavors besides blueberry.

Dessert is now my favorite time of day. My favorite way to complete a nutritious mean of two jars of beef, two jars of mashed peas and a pureed apple with cinnamon is with a slice of turtle cheesecake.  Don’t allow this news to leak to my mother, though; she’ll just take it to her bedroom.

The saddest part of this story is that I don’t even know how to make a cheesecake.  Please tell me if you have a good recipe.  Make sure that your recipe doesn’t require using either an oven or a whisk.  I do know how to use a blender, though, because I watched my mom prepare the Thanksgiving turkey one year.

Author’s addendum:  I may have taken some creative liberties with slight exaggerations here and there, but I’m not concerned about being caught.  My mother is still not sure what the Internet is.

When you are first the steps to making a gourmet cheesecake it can feel a bit overwhelming. Starting with a good recipe is essential. This is the most crucial aspect of baking one. The ingredients must also be very fresh. You will notice that when you are looking through recipes that you have a choice between either a ricotta cheesecake or a cream cheesecake.  Rich turtle cheesecakes are generally made with cream cheese. This will make the cake much more dense and rich.

Look online for a great recipe. There are so many different kinds of cheesecake and it can be difficult to decide which recipe to use. Use these steps when you make your turtle cheesecake.

To make a turtle cheesecake you will need to go to the store and buy several ingredients. Get butter, graham cracker crumbs, cream cheese sugar, flour, salt, white vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon, whipped cream, egg yolks and eggs.

The best pan to use is a sprinform pan. This will make the cheesecake a lot easier to make. It will make it look a lot more professional, too.

You will then need to make a butterscotch sauce. Use evaporated milk, butter, brown sugar, cornstarch and pecan halves.

You need to make sure that you follow these simple rules. The first is to keep you ingredients at room temperature.

Once the turtle cheesecake comes out of the oven, use a knife and run it around the edge of the cake.

Cool cake to room temperature before you place it into the refrigerator.

Mix the ingredients on low so you do not overmix it.

Make the cheesecake after you buy all of the necessary ingredients. It will need to be baked for thirty minutes at 350 degrees and then bake for an hour and a half at 250 degrees. You will then need to place the milk, butter and brown sugar in a double boiler to start making the butterscotch topping. Stir these ingredients until they are thick. Add in the cornstarch and water. Cook for seven more minutes. Put in pecan halves after it has cooled and stir. When it is all made drizzle the mixture over the turtle cheesecake.

Making a turtle cheesecake can be difficult. Take the suggestions listed above to make a great cake. Pretty soon everyone will be wanting you to make a turtle cheesecake at different functions that you go to. It takes practice but you will learn. Just don’t give up and have fun.

Of course, you could always decide just to drive to your local bakery or cheesecake specialty shop to buy one!

A few days ago, I talked with a family friend who recently learned that his huge manufacturing company was closing his plant. He is actually luckier than most of the people working for that company. He very recently reached the age at which he qualifies for early retirement, so he will continue to have a steady income. Those who did not reach that milestone of the specified number of years with the company will get a small severance package and be left to search for a job in that difficult market. That got me thinking about giving gifts for special occasions to those people who are experiencing difficult economic situations. I came up with a few suggestions that make more sense than a piece of home decor or a new tie. Here are some of them:

A fresh fruit basket is healthy, beautiful, delicious and always enjoyed. If you live near your gift recipient, you can find a lovely basket or other attractive container and fill it with fruit that is in season in your region of the country, obtained at a farmers market, and fill it out with a few exotic fruits picked up at your local super market. If your loved one is farther away, you can arrange for any of a large range of beautiful fruit gift baskets to be delivered to the recipient’s home. It will help them to reduce their grocery bill on their next trip to the super market.

A unique meal is another way to remember a special occasion. One alternative might be to take the friend to a special restaurant. If price is no object to you, be sure to suggest some of the pricier entrees on the menu, so that your guests know that they should not worry about ordering whatever they prefer. For example, you could say something like, “The crab legs are perfect here, but, if you don’t like seafood, try the filet mignon.” If they live too far away for that, you can actually find delicious, gourmet, chef-prepared meals online that arrive frozen and can be heated in almost no time. (I actually keep my freezer stocked with these.) Or you might send a gift certificate to a special place in their town.

You might also consider a tasty dessert. No person should have too many desserts, but on a birthday, anniversary or holiday, everyone deserves an opportunity to indulge a sweet tooth. Bake cookies, if that is a skill of yours, and hand deliver or have them delivered. For something a little more special consider giving them a freshly baked pie or turtle cheesecake. Whether you make it yourself or have others do the work for you doesn’t matter. It will be appreciated and definitely enjoyed either way.

You’ll notice a common feature in these suggestions. They all involve food. Someone who is going through a difficult time may not want to accept charity, but nobody can reject a genuinely special gift. If it reduces the grocery bill by a bit, so much the better.

Making a cheesecake can be hard when you are first learning. You need to make sure that you have a great recipe, which is the real trick to making a great cheesecake. Make sure that your ingredients are fresh, also. There are really two types of cheesecakes. One alternative is made with cream cheese and one is made with ricotta cheese. Cream cheese will make the cake much more rich and dense. Ricotta will make the cake fluffier. Most people chose cream cheese because it is easier and they like richer cheesecake. A turtle cheesecake is made with cream cheese.

Go online and look for recipes that look good. You will find that there are hundreds of different recipes to chose from. It can be difficult to chose which one to use. Generally, using the one that seems easier is the best one to start with. Use these steps below and you, too, can make a delicious tasting turtle cheesecake.

o You will need packages of cream cheese, sugar, salt, flour, white vanilla, melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, cocoa, cinnamon, whipped cream, eggs and egg yolks to make the turtle cheesecake.

o A springform pan will be needed to bake the cheesecake in. This is the easiest way to make it.

o For the butterscotch sauce you will need brown sugar, evaporated milk, butter, cornstarch and pecan halves.

o There are some things that you need to remember. Make sure that your ingredients are at room temperature.

o You will need to run the tip of a knife around the edge after you bake it.

o Before you refrigerate make sure it is cooled to room temperature.

o When you combine ingredients mix on low so it does not over mix.

After you mix your ingredients then you will need to bake it for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Then reduce the temperature to 250 for an hour and a half. Make the butterscotch topping by taking out a double boiler Put the milk, butter and brown sugar into the boiler. Stir it until it gets thick. The add cornstarch and water. You will need to cook this for seven minutes and then let it cool. You can then stir in the pecan halves and drizzle onto the top of the turtle cheesecake.

Once you have made the turtle cheesecake you may realize that it was a very difficult process. If you use the above instructions then it should make the process easier. After practice you will learn that it isn’t as hard as it seems.Many people order their cheesakes online, but now you know that it’s not as difficult as you first thought.  Of course, the online option is great if you want to ship a delicious treat to a loved one who is far away from you.

We all have at least one friend who is completely worthless in the kitchen.  Actually, if you don’t have a friend like that, read on, because I have enough friends who meet that description to share at least one of mine with you.

I probably should warn you in advance that you better like this friend quite a bit, because the gift tip I’m going to offer is a bit on the pricey side, although worth every penny.  Perhaps that nameless person is your roommate, your cousin or even your own son who you can seem to get to move out of your house, even after you paid for four years of college.

Try giving him a romantic dinner for which he never has to leave the house or apartment.  Hopefully he’ll be able to find an appropriate date with whom to share it.  Let’s face it, nothing sweeps a potential partner off his or her feet quite like a private, romantic, home made dinner.  I really do have a particular friend of mine in mind as I write this, and he needs all the help that I can give him, and I’m sure your similar friend does, too.  You may need to be very specific when you give him your gift and the instructions to go with it.  Remind him to light candles, choose the music for him and suggest he pick up his dirty socks.

Start with a gift of a fine gourmet cheese for the beginning course  Suggest that he consider serving the cheese with ripe apple slices or pear slices, but only if you trust him to handle a knife.  He can serve this course as a finger food or at the dining table as the formal beginning of the meal.

The second course should be a delicious lobster dinner or perhaps a surf and turf meal, if he is a beef fanatic.  Since this man needs so much help, you will want to be certain that the lobster is as fresh as possible.

End the evening (at least the part of the evening you’re helping with) with a delicious, New York cheesecake or a turtle cheesecake, if he is a fan of chocolate for dessert.  Whichever cheesecake option you choose, tell him to spruce up the serving with a few fresh berries.

If he drinks alcoholic beverages, do not trust him to choose the wine for the dinner.  Lobster is sufficiently robust that it is perfectly safe to offer a bold wine.  He might consider a Burgundy or Merlot, although if he is not very adventurous, then perhaps a Chardonnay would be better for him.

Once you’ve done your part in the affair, relax until you receive the engagement announcement.  If you learn that the perfect evening didn’t work, just give up on him, and next time you can enjoy the delicious meal with your own favorite partner.  Oh, you also might want to look for a different friend.

Some old friends stopped by without calling first not long ago. We had a good talk with them, reminiscing old times, catching up on current events, and discussing politics. As the night progressed, I realized I needed to serve refreshments. This would be a difficult task, as I haven’t been to the store lately and my supply of food was dwindling. I surveyed the cupboard, trying to find a suitable choicebut couldn’t find anything appropriate. I refused to serve these people stale crackers, moldy cheese, or overripe fruit. I quickly scanned the contents of my refrigerator and freezer. How lucky could I be? Wedged between the fish sticks and popsicles in my freezer was a wonderful option…cheesecake.

Cheesecake can be stored for several days in the refrigerator or frozen for months. It tastes as fresh as the day you purchase it. It thaws in just a few minutes, is easy to slice into serving portions and simple to serve. Its creamy texture makes it easy to swallow, as well.

Cheesecake is such a delicious treat, I like to keep a few around for just these sorts of occasions. It is so versatile, it freezes well, is easy to serve, and can be used for just about any occasion. Whether it is a sweet snack, a handy dessert, or a covered-dish item for pot-luck dinners, cheesecake is an unforgettable rich and creamy choice. I’ve even been known to give cheesecake to others as gifts.

Cheesecake boasts a delicious uniqueness all its own, with the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness. There are a number of kinds of cheesecake from which to make your choice, making each seem like a exquisitively different dessert. Of these different choices, fruit-topped cheesecake offers a healthy and colorful option. Picture juicy, red strawberries, firm blueberries, or sweet peaches ladled generously over a slice of New York Style cheesecake and feel your mouth water. For that extra-tart, exotic pleaser, try Key Lime cheesecake. Turtle cheesecake has that decadently rich taste sensation that is truly delicious.

The cheesecake in my freezer just happened to be New York Style. This turned out to be the perfect choice for these particular friends, who are non-pretentious and very down-to-earth. I quickly placed the container on the counter to start thawing, started a pot of coffee and by the time it was finished brewing, the cheesecake was ready to slice and serve. What a delightful visit we had, conversing between mouthfuls of this deliciously refreshing treat.

Yes, cheesecake is a deliciously refreshing treat to serve in “spur of the moment” times like when friends unexpectedly stop by. In fact, all of our friends know I like to keep cheesecake on hand. I guess that it’s possible that our friends didn’t just “drop by”…maybe it was planned so they could enjoy some cheesecake…

I am planning a surprise birthday party for my husband.  This year is a significant birthday for him.  He will be entering a new decade of life, so I want for us to celebrate this event more than we usually do.  Since he is a person who likes the simple things in life, I will keep the guest list small.  He certainly would not enjoy a grand affair, nor would he want a lot of presents to open, so I am asking the guests to only bring lighthearted birthday wishes.  For those who insist on a present, I’m suggesting they give a charitable gift to those less fortunate than we are, in my husband’s honor.

I plan to host this surprise birthday party at our home.  We have a very roomy yard which is well suited to entertaining.  There is ample room for our folks and siblings to sit comfortably on the patio, as well as a nice lawn for the younger children to cavort. Decorations will consist of strings of brightly colored patio lights, which will also light up the area nicely.  Easy-listening music will be played on our outdoor CD player to create an ambience of serenity.

My husband is not a cake lover, so finding suitable birthday refreshments is always a troublesome matter.  In the past, we have had oatmeal cookies or vanilla ice cream with various fruit toppings.  One year, he was perfectly content with popsicles.  This year, I have decided to serve a gourmet turtle cheesecake.  The rich caramel and chocolate fudge combined with the distinctive tanginess and texture of cheesecake will be a special treat.  The sprinkling of salty pecans will certainly keep his taste buds satisfied.

(Later, now.)  Upon completion of the plans, the eagerly anticipated date of my husband’s birthday party celebration has finally arrived.  As luck would have it, the evening is beautiful…clear skies, sparkling stars, warm temperature, and a light breeze.  As I excitedly lead my husband outside in the pretense of taking a stroll around the garden, our loved ones surprise him by singing “Happy Birthday” to him.  I hold the turtle cheesecake as he proceeds to blow out lots and lots of candles.  As each guest takes their first mouth-watering bite, they rave about how delicious the turtle cheesecake tastes.  My husband whole-heartedly agrees.  He thoroughly enjoys this birthday cake substitution.

It was an evening of quiet, comfortable pleasure; full of stimulating conversation, light-hearted jokes, and treasured fellowship of close friends and family…exactly the kind of celebration that my husband appreciates.

After everyone had called it an evening, when I asked my dear husband if he had an inkling of the surprise birthday party, he replied with twinkling eyes, “Well, the turtle cheesecake was a surprise.”  Turtle cheesecake is, indeed, the extra-special treat for this extra-special birthday!