A child is a mixture of generations before them and yet they have their own distinct impact on future. They may be small in statute but they are giants in creativity. They can fly on a magic carpet as easily as we drive a car. They can spin tales of delight, while we lament past. Children climb ladder of life and hope to reach their castles in sky. They are clever, original, and have a vision that they carry in their souls.

Where is point that we change from being miracle of a child to practical, down-to-earth, adult that tolerates no nonsense, is too busy to watch a firefly, and misses delight of a spider spinning his web? I don’t believe everyone attains this transformation at same time. Some blame it on life while others point to their parents, environment, or even their heritage. If we find that we can no longer sit down and find humor in a misshaped clay figure, or realize that crayon marks are not “outside” lines, but that they are only an expansion of what could possibly be, then take a child by hand and let them lead you back into a realm where anything is possible and everything is probable. Enter land where everything lends itself to be transformed into whatever you would like it to be.

So, why do we have a Children’s Day? Could it possibly be because we realize that we are children for such a short time and we are adults for rest of our lives? Do we feel in our hearts that we have to step back into a world where color, sparkle, and enchantment allows us to reclaim dreams, renew our hopes, and a small hand will help us find ourselves? Are we really celebrating children or does world need to realign its visions and build better castles in sky? Isn’t Children’s Day really a day for whole world to appreciate life and really see what it has to offer? Are we finally beginning to realize that we carry our childhood in our hearts and that when we rekindle our acquaintance with what we were, our steps are a little lighter, our smiles are brighter, and our world resembles a box of crayons. ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 May

(An excerpt from Celebrate a Child by Arleen M. Kaptur)

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STRAWBERRY BAVARIAN CREME ELEGANTE

1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 1/4 cups cold milk, divided

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup cold heavy whipping cream strawberry cream

Using a 6-cup ring mold - lightly oil. Drain strawberry slices, but keep liquid. Add water to strawberry juice to equal 3/4 cup. Sprinkle gelatin over liquid and let stand for 3 mins. Refrigerate drained berries. In pan, combine sugar, chocolate chips and 1/2 cups milk. Cook gently over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture is very smooth and hot. Add gelatin mixture, stirring constantly, until gelatin is completely dissolved and entire mixture is integrated. Remove from heat, add remaining milk and vanilla. Pour into bowl. Refrigerate for 1 hr. Check to see if mixture mounds when dropped from spoon. If not, continue keeping in refrigerate and repeat checking. Using a mixer, beat heavy cream until stiff; fold into chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared mold and refrigerate 3 hrs. Unmold and garnish with strawberry cream. Creme: 1/2 pint cold heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract, 2-3 drops red food coloring

Mash refrigerated strawberries. Using mixer, beat whipping cream and vanilla until stiff. Fold in mashed strawberries and red food coloring. (Use enough coloring to give a pretty pink hue to mixture.)

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STRAWBERRY SYRUP

(For pancakes or ice cream)

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

2 cups mashed fresh strawberries, that have been washed, hulled and sliced In a pan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Slowly add mashed strawberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered, stirring constantly, for 8-10 mins. Syrup can be refrigerated.

However you serve strawberries celebrate their color, and flavor to bring added excitement to any meal menu. ©Arleen M. Kaptur March 2002

(Excerpt from Strawberry/Chocolate Recipes by Arleen M. Kaptur)