Cheese Cream

Today was officially three days till Christmas, the most magical and loving holiday. My grandpa used to make Cheese cream, which is strawberry cheesecake with vanilla ice-cream instead of cream cheese. He made the desert for the kids in the family every Christmas and since he passed away last year, I have decided to take on that tradition. My grandpa was the best baker in the family, and he would always teach me and my older sister everything he knew. I was more into baking than my sister was, so I was usually in the kitchen with my grandpa making yummy desserts. Since I was in the kitchen most of my life, I remembered the recipe by heart. I needed graham cracker, white sugar, cinnamon, butter, frozen strawberries, cornstarch, ice-cream, sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and eggs. I looked around my kitchen to see if I had all the ingredients. After looking through my kitchen I needed sweetened condensed milk, frozen strawberries, graham crackers, and lemon juice. After I wrote down my list, I grabbed my keys and went into my car. While in my car I listened to my favorite band, One Direction. When I got to Publix, I turned off my car and went inside. While I was looking for the strawberries. I heard someone say my name.

“Elizabeth!”

I turned around and saw my best friend in the entire world.

“DRACO!” I ran to him and hugged him with my legs wrapped around him.

“I missed you so much.”

“Same so what are you going to make?” He asked looking at my basket.

“Well, I and going to make Cheese cream.”

“Ooooo sounds delicious.”

He knows what it is because he is my best friend and he knows my entire family.

“You say that every time,” I say laughing.

“What, you make the best desserts.”

“Thank you,” I say slightly blushing.

“No problem Bubs.”

“Do you what to come back to my house and help me make the dessert,” I said smiling

“Finally, I thought you were never going to ask.”

“Great! I just need to get the lemon juice. What about you?”

“I just need to get strawberries.” He said while grabbing a box from behind me.

I grabbed the lemon juice and went to the checkout.

“That will be $53.35.”

I looked through my bag for my credit card and by the time I pulled it out Draco had already paid for my stuff and his.

“Why did you do that.”

“Because I can, and if you have a problem with that I don’t care.”

“Next time it is on me,” I said in a stern voice.

“Maybe.” He said while running to my car.

“Really.”

“Yep.”

He helped me put my things in the truck then went to his car.

“Meet me at my house,” I said yelling at him.

“Ok.”

I got in my car and started to drive home. When I got home, Draco was already there.

“How did you get here so fast?”

“I went the fast way.”

“There’s only one way!” I said laughing

I opened the door and put my groceries and his in my fridge.

“So let's begin, I need graham cracker, white sugar, cinnamon, butter, frozen strawberries, cornstarch, ice-cream, sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and eggs. “When I said that we went and started grabbing the ingredients.

“Ok, what now.”

“I play music.” I turned on a random playlist and starting dancing. While dancing I kept remembering my grandpa and when he played music while baking with me.

“Hey, are you ok?”

“No, I miss him. He was my grandpa he thought me everything I know.” I said while crying.

“I know you miss him but doing this recipe will be a good thing to do. Your remembering him with what he loved baking.”

“You’re the best,” I said while looking at each other’s eyes.

“Ok let’s start.”

“Ok, first combine 1 ¼ cup of graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 1/3 cup of melted butter into a bowl.” We were having so much just mixing the ingredients.

“You're making a mess. I thought you were good and this.” Draco said while laughing.

“Your so mean,” I said while grabbing some of the mixture and putting it on his nose.

“Oh, so you want to play this game.” He grabbed the bag of sugar and poured it on me.

“Ok ok, we're even,” I said while laughing so hard.

“OK next step is to put the mixture on the bottom of a pan and put it in the fridge.” Draco did that and we went on with the next step.

“Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.”

“OK done.”

“Great. Now, let's cut the strawberries and put them in the blender with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.” I cut the strawberries and ate one and Draco ate one too.

“Ok, now we have put that sauce on the stove in till it is thick and shiny.” We waited for about 10 minutes and it was ready.

“Ok set aside 1/3 cups and put it in the fridge.”

“Yes ma’am.” He said while laughing.

“Draco,” I said while laughing.

“What.”

“Whatever let's continue, beat ice cream in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.”

“Gradually beat in condensed milk. Mix in lemon juice and vanilla extract, then beat in eggs on low speed until just combined.” We made a mess while doing this it was so funny.

“Pour half of cream cheese mixture over crust, drop half of the reserved strawberry sauce by 1/2 teaspoonfuls on cream cheese layer. 

“ Draco carefully spoons remaining cream cheese mixture over sauce; drop remaining strawberry sauce by 1/2 teaspoonfuls on top.”

“This looks so good.”

“Thank you, Draco.”

“For what.”

“For helping me keep my Grandpa’s favorite dessert alive.” 

“No problem Bubs.”

“What time is it?”

“Shoot it is 11:30 p.m.”

“Really omg I had so much fun I forgot about the time. You can stay overnight if you want.”

“Thank you!”

“No problem Bubs,” I said with a smile on my face.

"Now let clean up."

Today was the best day I got to spend time with Draco and remember my grandpa. Making this dessert brought back so many amazing memories from when I was young and I was so grateful to have had an amazing grandpa that would do this with me.