Spicing things up...

    

     I've known my husband since we were 18 years old. We met, fell in love and got married 5 years later. Since then, we've had 3 kids, adopted a cat, and have gone through many changes, both good and bad.  As we celebrated our 20th anniversary back in August we both marvelled at the fact that we've been through so much togehter and have been by each other's side for more than half our lives.

     In 2014 my husband and I have decided  to make some changes in our relationship. We all know that long term unions often get stale and become stagnant, thus, after all of these years together, we have decided to...

... switch sides on our bed.

Dramatic, I know. That's how we roll.

     Now, you may think that this is a simple change. Believe me, it is not.  It's been less than a week and already I am feeling the dire side effects of sleep deprivation. I cannot get used to sleeping on the other side of the bed. 

     The change was not a sudden one. Like all committed, loving couples, we talked about this change at length. We discussed the pros and cons. We talked about the ramifications of swtiching our night stands.  I expressed my concerns about finding my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  My husband wasn't sure the cat would comprehend the change and jump up to snuggle with him instead of me (this was a major issue as my husband is not a lover of cats).

     In the end, we decided to go for it. A new year means new changes, and we were ready to try something new! Also, my husband's previously injured collar bone could no longer take the strain of of him laying on it night after night.  Thanks to my night owl reading habits he is forced to lay on his bad side to sheild his eyes from the glare of my lamp.

     I love my husband, even after all of these years, and I am willing to do anything to make him happy.  This however, may be pushing the envelope. No matter how hard I try, I just can not get comfortable. Everything is different! Our alarm clock, because of my poor eyesight, has moved with me and as a result I now look at a tissue box instead of the time. My favourite sleeping position now has me facing towards the window, arms hanging over the side of the bed. I can no longer shut off my lamp with my dominant right hand without involving some advanced yoga moves.

     For the sake of our marriage, and my husband's aching shoulder, I will persevere. For better or for worse, I am determined to make this work. In order to do so, I've resorted to working out my frustrations in the kitchen.  To ease my morning grumpiness due to a fitful night's sleep I decided to bake up a batch of these blueberry muffins. I may not sleep well again tonight, but at least I'll have something delicious to enjoy tomorrow morning while I over caffinate myself  to get through the day.

Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

courtesy of A Cook's Quest

 

*This recipe makes about 15 muffins

~ Preheat oven to 425 with rack in the middle

Streusel Topping:

3 Tablespoons white sugar
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
4 Tablespoons melted butter

• Combine both sugars and flour
• Slowly pour in the butter *Note: you may or may not need all of it
• Slowly combine with a fork until ingredients come together in a crumbly mixture
• Set the topping aside

Muffins:

2 cups fresh blueberries
1 1/8 cups sugar, plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 Tablespoon water
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk (*see my "Tips" page for recipes to make your own)
2 teaspoons vanilla

• Place 1 cup of the blueberries into a small sauce pan
• Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and the water
• Heat over med. high heat, stirring frequently
• Cook until mixture reduces and thickens ~about 6 minutes 
• Mash berries with a fork or potato masher
• Set aside

~ In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, set aside
 
~ Whisk sugar and eggs together in a separate bowl with mixer

~ Slowly mix in butter and oil until combined
 
~ Add in buttermilk and vanilla
 
~ Using a spatula, carefully fold egg mixture and remaining cup of blueberries into the flour mixture until the batter is just moistened

~ The batter will be lumpy, don't worry that is how it supposed to look!

~ Line your muffin pans with paper liners
 
~ Fill up each muffin cup so much that it mounds up

~ Next, grab the blueberry sauce you made earlier on the stove. Dollup about a teaspoon in the middle of every muffin. Then swirl it through with a toothpick.

~ Generously top each muffin with the streusel topping
 
~ Bake muffins at 400 degrees for 17-19 minutes until tops are golden brown
 
~ Cool muffins for about 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack and let them cool slightly longer before serving.  (That is if you can wait that slightly longer!)