Lover's Fudge Brownies

Lover’s Fudge Brownies
Dorcas Annette Walker

The English Encarta Dictionary defines romance as: a love affair; physical love; when the relationship is idealized, exciting or intense; a spirit of adventure and excitement; a fascination; and a story of love. There are innumerable novels, movies, plays, and poems written about the subject of romance. Thirty-two years ago my romance began when a young theological college student of nineteen proposed to a seventeen-year-old high school senior in the college dining hall. We became engaged on Valentine’s Day. I should have seen the signs that an engagement begun in a dining hall would mean involvement in the kitchen on a daily basis. Dana and my engagement quickly made top headlines in the school news as up to that time college guys only dated college girls. In fact our engagement was discussed during the next school board meeting with the president actually telling Dana that our engagement could not continue! By then not only the entire student body, but all the teachers had gotten involved in discussing our engagement with sides sharply divided. Dana, true to form, told the college president that his engagement to me was between us, not the school, nor the school board. Six months later on a hot June evening we were married. My mother was shocked at our wedding reception when one minister approached her wanting to know how Dana and I had gotten together as not only were our personalities opposite, but our backgrounds were as different as day is night. Unfortunately, we started out our married life being considered the least likely couple to make it on campus. On our twenty-fifth anniversary Dana and I were discussing all the couples that had gotten married around the same time and we were amazed to discover that very few were still married to their original partner. Both of us started out with a goal of reaching fifty years of marriage together. Despite moving twelve times, living far from our parents while raising a son with severe hemophilia and having a daughter that has written medical history by having mild hemophilia, traveling all around the United States as a family with Dana in evangelism, and losing both of my parents to AIDS, Dana and I are still hanging in there. We are like countless other married couples, who refuse to call it quits, turning obstacles into growth and enrichment. It takes two people willing and dedicated to make a marriage work. There are no guarantees in life. My wish is that this season you and your Valentine will have a romantic day with a great year ahead!

Lover’s Fudge Brownies evolved from a couple of recipes. This fudgy, rich, chocolate-tasting brownie with a hidden mixture of cream cheese, cocoanut, and nuts is a chocolate lover’s delight. I baked my Lover’s Fudge Brownies in a heart-shaped pan for my Valentine- who keeps sneaking another piece every chance he gets. Preparation time for my Lover’s Fudge Brownies is only ten minutes and this recipe serves around sixteen.

Lover’s Fudge Brownies

Prepare one box of brownie mix (any brand) like it says.
Pour into a well greased baking dish.
Beat together until smooth:
1 (eight oz) pkg cream cheese
¼ c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Stir in until well mixed:
1 c chocolate chips
1 c chopped nuts (I used pecans)
½ c flaked cocoanut
Layer the cream cheese mixture on top of the unbaked brownie mix. Bake at 350º for one hour or until a knife comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Garnish with powdered sugar or sprinkle red crystal sugar on top and serve to your Valentine!

Weekly tip: You can freeze cream cheese in the freezer to keep on hand. Just thaw in the refrigerator for twelve hours before using to preserve the creamy texture!

Dorcas Annette Walker is a published author, syndicated columnist, freelance magazine writer, and photographer from Jamestown, Tennessee. Contact her at: dorcaswalker@twlakes.net For more information check out: www.dorcasannettewalker.com