Why Fake Is Sometimes the Most Real of All

In a perfect world I would make all of my family's food from scratch. There would be not a box or a can in sight in my quaint, perfectly decorated farmhouse kitchen. Note: I do not have a perfectly decorated farmhouse kitchen. This, too, only exists in the aforementioned perfect, imaginary world. Moving on.

So, that would be ideal. But, in order for that perfect culinary ideal to be a reality, everything else in my life would also need to be perfect and ideal. I would have all the time in the world to cook and bake. My family would always prefer the all natural, organic version rather than the processed, boxed version. I would always prefer the natural version. I would always have all ingredients on hand to make every recipe from scratch and said ingredients would always be in season, not to mention afordable. 

I do not live in this world. If you do, please tell me where you live. As much as I hate moving, I would pack up my boxes and become your new neighbor and bring you fresh baked cookies daily. 

So, as much as I try to make all of our food healthy and homemade, sometimes that just is not my reality. Sometimes the fake, from a box, pop a can food is what needs to happen. Sometimes, yes, it is even what we prefer.

This brings me to my cheese danish. Well, that and my desire for a taste of lovely, sugary goodness is what brings me to my cheese danish. This week I sent my oldest off to high school camp with our church. She has been to camp every year since she was 7 but this year, obviously, was different. She's in high school. It's a whole week. It's in California. Did I mention she's in high school? I was excited to send her and she was excited to go. Even so, we cried together the night before she left. 

I wanted to make her a special breakfast for the morning of her departure. Something yummy, but quick and possibly easy to eat on the go. She had to be at church a 7 am and this is a girl who doesn't see daylight before 8 on a good day. It was entirely plausible she'd be rolling out of bed 10 minutes prior to departure time and eating her breakfast in the car. 

I immediately thought of my cheese danish. I ran it by my eleven year old, got the thumbs up, and we set out to give our girl a proper send off. 

This is not health food. It is not all natural. It is not low calorie. 

This is yummy. This does say 'I love you' in a way few breakfast foods can. This is a lovely treat.

This is how you make it.

Ingredients

2 cans refriegerated crescent rolls

2 boxes cream cheese (Please, please do not use low fat. Just go for it.)

1 1/4 cups sugar ( DO NOT even think of using fake sugar.)

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg yoke, slightly beaten

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread out one can of the crescents in the dish, pinching the edges to close the gaps. In a stand mixer, or with an electric mixer, mix the rest of ingredients until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl if necessary. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the top of the rolls. Spread out the second can of the crescent rolls over the top, again pinching the seams to close the gaps. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool on the counter for about an hour. Refirgerate overnight. 

                                 

                         My little made this nearly all by hersef for her best friend, big sister.

                            Dude, check this sweet action shot of my Bean spreading the 

                                                    cheese mixture on top of the rolls. 

Yep. That's it. Way affordable. Way easy. And, most important, way yummy.

                                   

When you are ready to eat in the morning, cut yourself a handsome slice, pop it in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds, and enjoy.

You can eat these after they cool a bit, right out of the oven. However, they will be a bit gooey when you slice into them and the cheese filling may run. This is not the worst thing in the world, but if you can make it the day before and wait, you will get nice, clean slices. 

It was a hit. My girl loved it and even got up early enough to enjoy her slice with a cup of coffee at the table. 

Um, yes, my 13 year old drinks coffee. Subject for another blog.

So was it "real?" It was really delicious. And, sometimes, that's good enough. Sometimes, giving your family a little of the fake food that tastes good and reminds them of home, is just about as real as it gets.