Anyone out there who has ever been in a relationship that lasted longer than 6 months knows that making them work can be a heap of work. The vast majority of my romantic entanglements had a shelf life rivaling a carton of soy milk – I lived for the thrill of the chase, basked in those magical first few weeks (or days, ahem) but when the cute little things started to lose their luster, I was usually off like a prom dress. So to speak.
What does this have to do with muffins you ask? A fair question. Because I was faster than Speedy Gonzales when it came to ending relationships, I also got to skip out on things like compromise and taking one for the team and shrugging off the really annoying things that seem to rear their ugly heads around the 13-month mark.
Like sleeping in on the weekend. One of Monsieur Fish’s favourite things ever.
I’m all for sleeping in, but I’m talking sleeping for hours longer then Guppy and I, both of us ready to get out and have some fun.
I try to be cool with it, but sometimes it just gets in the way of our day, or perhaps I should say my day…
Gingered Apple Muffins, sorta.
Rather than fight the currents of marital strife, I opted for the more tranquil waters one finds when going with the flow. Thanks to the muffins. These dense and delicious muffins are as delicious as they are good for you. They’re from Sweet Freedom which is full of healthier ways to eat the treats you love. I’m the only ginger fan chez nous so I swapped the candied ginger for diced dehydrated banana bits – and wow! The tender apple bits married just splendidly with the banana.
Mere moments before taking these delicious muffins out of the oven, a groggy Monsieur Fish fumbled into the kitchen declaring, “Ca sent trop bon ici. C’est quoi?”* and there he was, up before 10 a.m., eating muffins and drinking coffee. I was happy because we were together around the breakfast table (rather than finding myself fuming and looking at the clock) and he was happy because he got to eat these delicious apples à volonté. I admit it may be a light exaggeration to say that muffins can save your marriage, but they certainly can make it taste better!
So here’s the deal – I was a recipe tester for Sweet Freedom, but now that I have my copy I am biting at the bit to try all the recipes I didn’t get to test! I’m thinking of running a little series of “Sweet Freedom Saturdays” where I’ll try a new recipe from the book. Anyone want to join me?
*It smells too yummy in here, what is it?
comme c’est triste que tu sois la seule a aimer le gingembre!
il me le faut, ce livre. si j’arrive a l’acheter, je te joindrai pour les samedis.
ben ca y est, je l’ai achete. youpie!
Youppie! C’est chic alors – on peut faire semblant d’être au fourneau ensemble!
Sweet Freedom Saturdays sound awesome.
Monsieur Fish and JumbleMan have much in common. Must get the cookbook right away!!
My husband does the same thing! He likes to stay up until five in the morning the night before and then sleep as long as possible. Maybe muffins would help? The ones you made do look awfully good!
my hubby loves to sleep in too, it doesn’t matter how early or late he went to bed, he thinks getting up by 11am is really early… with the exception of when he’s on dayshift and he has to be out the door by 6:30am.
I used to be like that (i’d stay up late to make him dinner at 3am on nightshift and get up early to make his lunch on dayshift) but with the geekling around i’m lucky to sleep in until 8am. haha
Those muffins look so good! Too bad you couldn’t enjoy them the gingered way, but dehydrated banana bits must have been great too!
Hey, if you want to let Monsieur Fish sleep in one day next month, you could always go out with Guppy for a bit of fun with a visiting friend!
too funny! I haven’t made the apple muffins, but I will…
That made me giggle – who ever thought Muffins would be a relationship saver
They sure do look good, I’m just sighing because that’s now another book to my ever growing wish list.
We (I) have the same problem at our house. Perhaps I should see if muffins would also work on our front. And those look heavenly!
That is one awesome way to get someone out of bed!
I’m so glad you liked them, Shelly! And the banana bits are genius. Though I’d be sad to go without my beloved ginger.
Sweet Freedom Saturdays? Can I kiss you??
Ahhhh Shelley – I can so relate. My husband has the genetic coding that will allow him to sleep for an entire weekend, surfacing only for personal needs. Utterly and completely amazing. I, on the other hand, missed all of those genes and so did our dog. The kids, now 10 & 13, share in their father’s ability to remain comatose for hours and hours on end.
After 19 years of marriage, I have come to adore early Saturday & Sunday mornings. I can have a leisurely cup of coffee, blog away, exercise, read a book, and simply relish the joy of being alone.
If there is something we want to do as a family on the weekend, I’ve got to prep them for the event throughout the week.
Congratulations on making a muffin that has the ability to raise the Saturday sleeper.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
ahahahaha – hooray, Shelly! you are so right about relationships taking a good bit to make ‘em work! it’s fun, and trying, and sometimes eazy peazy, and hell – sometimes it gets a little crazy – but i love it all! that’s just too awesome on the banana apple muffins having monsieur fish out of bed early! that’s one magical muffin! w00t! man, i need to get my copy of sweet freedom super soon!
I can just smell those muffins baking!
I’m afraid that I can’t judge Monsier Fish because I am a late sleeper. I could geek out until late into the night and then sleep until 10 or 11 the next day. That’s rare though.
Yum! I can’t PROMISE to bake every Saturday morning, but I’ll be baking and posting lots of Ricki’s fabulous recipes.
I have a husband who thinks it’s his god given right to sleep in on the weekends and leave me to deal with the 3 feral kids! Unfortunately he also feels he is the only one capable of making a tasty weekend breaky for us all so we have to wait until he feels like getting up before we can even eat! BTW we have been married for 6 years, I can’t see me quitting now.
I have the same issue with my husband, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one. I often use that time to blog, and make fancy breakfasts on the weekend.
another book i need to add to my amazon wish list! sigh!
those muffins do look great though!
Shelly, I feel your pain.
My boyfriend can (and does) sleep FOREVER! I have to prep him the night before if I want to go to the Farmer’s Market or something with him, and NEVER before 10 AM. It used to drive me crazy, but now I just go about my business — coffee, breakfast, cooking, errands, whatever, and if he misses breakfast all together, then it’s just time for lunch by the time he gets up!
I bet it’s different with a child around, though.
At least you could send Guppy in all of her cuteness on a “waking up Daddy” mission? Don’t forget the Prince Charming hat! 
Sounds so lovely. I have a feeling my relationship is cemented with baked goods too.
good vegan food can truly work wonders!
teehee… “off like a prom dress”
… now in my rotation of favorite sayings! And you and your fishies are so cute… and good advice… it will be taken and used with discretion!
I love baking when everyone else is asleep. I’ve add the Sweet Freedom to my wishlist. The muffins sound really really delicious. I mean, apple + ginger. Wow.
cute story. sometimes when the husband disappears to his studio, i cook up something yummy to coax him down.
Moi, j’adore le gingembre! Peut-etre pas *chaque* samedi, mais quelques samedis, c’est possible que je vais faire “Sweet Freedom Saturday” avec toi. Bonne idee!
I’m having a hard time deciding on what to make first, but those muffins sure do sound tempting… Mmm!
Baked treats can pretty much do anything, can’t they?! I completely relate to your situation, yet I never tried luring my other half away from whatever is keeping him with baked yummies. Must do that next time!