By:  Kimberly Boyd

There is something about a having a long day, and then coming home to a fire built and a warm cup of coffee to relax. Sometimes in life, we get thrown a curve ball and all we can do is pray to God for a miracle.

One time, I remember my mom receiving a phone call that devastated our family. Even though I was only six when everything took place, I still remember the day like it was yesterday. I was laying on the couch watching PBS, and the phone rang. I heard the tone in my momma’s voice change and tears stroll down her cheeks as she listened on the other end to the voice talking. I remember watching and thinking, “what’s wrong with Momma?” When she hung up, she looked at me and said, “Kimberly, we gotta pray. They just found a brain tumor on your cousin Neal.”

My little cousin was only a year younger than me. He was five years old, and he had just been diagnosed with brain cancer. I’ll never understand this ugly disease. But, I remember my momma grabbing my hand and we stopped right there and prayed for my cousin. Then, she made herself a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table and cried.

As days past, she received more phone calls and updates. We just kept praying.

Christmas time rolled around, and I couldn’t wait to see my family. Once again, all the Schlinkers gathered together with their covered dishes and we were ready for a Christmas feast. The best thing I remember about these family gatherings was playing tag with my cousins. We all played hard till we got in trouble for running inside!

That Christmas, I will never forget.

My Aunt and Uncle walked in the door with their two boys, and there was my cousin, Neal.  He clung to his mother and had a tight grip on her hand. I remember as a kid thinking, “what happened?” His appearance had changed. He had lost his hair, and he had a huge scar on his head from surgery. He had lost his smile and sparkle in his eye.  He didn’t want to play. He just sat at the table with his mom and dad. At the time, I did not understand. We tried to get him up to play with us. But, he just sat.

I remember his little sad face as he watched us run and play. Cancer is an awful thing for anyone to go through, but watching a kid suffer is heartbreaking. I remember his mother leaning down to whisper as I came closer, “Neal, baby, do you want to get up and go play?” He shook his head no and leaned in to lay his head on his mother’s shoulder. I should have said something, but I didn’t know what to say. I just ran away.

After years of several surgeries, chemo and radiation, and doctor visits, my cousin survived that brain tumor. However, life has never been the same for him.  I thank God for saving him. His smile has returned and it can light up a room when he walks in because he is a true survivor. He went through so much..things no kid should ever have to go through. His parents went through more than most parents have ever endured.  But, through the grace of God, they have made it and Neal is the sweetest person you could possibly meet.  Each Christmas, I can’t wait to be greeted by his smile as I walk in the door, because he is a cancer survivor!

So, for Day #3 of “Oh, Fudge!,” I bring you “White Chocolate Cappuccino Fudge,” because sometimes, when you have a bad day, you just need a cup of coffee, a good prayer, and piece of fudge to melt away the troubles of the world.

For all our readers who are struggling with cancer, don’t give up! We are praying for you!

White Chocolate Cappuccino Fudge
Ingredients:
1 ½ tablespoons of Instant Coffee
1 tablespoon of Hot Water
4 ounces of Unsalted Butter (equals ½ cup or 1 stick)
2 cups of Sugar
¾ Cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
1 teaspoon Salt
1 package of White Chocolate Chips (12 oz.)
1 jar of Marshmallow Cream (7 oz.)
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Directions:
Line a 8×9 baking pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.  Next, in a small bowl combine instant coffee and hot water. Stir until coffee dissolves. Set aside for now.  Now, place butter, sugar, whipping cream, and salt in a medium size pot. Turn on your burner to medium to high heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Continue to cook fudge and stir frequently until it comes to a boil. Once the temperature reaches 240 degrees, remove the pot from heat.  Add the white chocolate chips. Stir. Now, add the marshmallow cream and stir again. Stir until all of this is melted. If you need to, you can return it to the stove to heat slightly until all the chips are melted. Last, add vanilla extract and stir.
Next, scoop out about 1 ½ cups of the fudge into a small bowl. No need to really measure this. You can guess. You basically are just needing to remove about a quarter of the fudge. This will be for the white swirl to use at the end of the fudge making process. Set this aside.
Next, add the coffee liquid to the remaining fudge left in the bowl. Stir until it is well blended. Place the coffee fudge into the greased pan.  Go fast! Now, scoop spoonfuls of the white fudge you have in the other bowl and dollop on top of the coffee fudge. Take a butter knife and swirl the two fudges together. Do not swirl too much or you will have just a muddy fudge.  You will want a distinction of the two flavors.  Chill for two to three hours to harden and then serve! Enjoy!