Fudge! That is what I say with a gleam in my eye when ever I get close to Mackinaw City or Mackinaw Island. I always walk by the fudge shops debating on which shop to ultimately settle on for my purchase. If I am on the island, I tend to buy a few 1/4 pound slabs and get one free. At least a couple of those have to be for me. One of them has to be for immediate consumption. I carefully pull out the selected fudge and use the plastic knife they provide to cut off a very well-defined piece of fudge. I just can't hack up good fudge. Well, I have always thought it would be cool to be able to create fudge like they do on the island. I have watched them pour the hot, liquid fudge on the marble table and start to stir and flop the fudge with their long-handled stirrer that looks like a wide putty knife. I have thought I would like to be able to make fudge that way. So, last year I put a marble slab on my Christmas list so I could make Mackinaw Island style fudge. Amazingly, my uncle somehow was able to find a marble slab that I could use at home. It is about 2' X 2'. With a little research on recipes and technique, I took my first crack at making my Mackinaw Island fudge over Christmas break. I bought a 6" putty knife and stirred the fudge into a long log of fudge like they do on the island. I cut it into slabs like they do on the island. I am still doing a bit of experimentation, but I think it turned out pretty well. To get it just right, I will have to continue to work on my technique, experiment with ingredients and flavors, and research more from the experts, which will mean that I will have to make a lot more fudge! Making successful students is a little like making fudge. You have to have to passion for it so you will take the extra effort to make it happen. You have to continue to work on your technique. You have to experiment with what and how you put things together, and you have to continue to research best practices. Some of the ingredients are good by themselves, just like students. But, some are hard to take (unsweetened chocolate or vanilla) by themselves, just like students. Once the unsweetened chocolate and vanilla are added to the sugar, the cream, and the butter, the combination makes a good final product. Anything worth getting just right is worth the effort.
