Cheering From the Sidelines

Plus raspberry cardamom crumb muffins.

Baker’s Notes:

Fluffy and tender; Pockets of jammy, tart raspberries

Messy rubble of brown sugar crumb topping

Hi Bakers!

One day you’re throwing your sweats over your wet swimsuit for the drive home from the community aquatic center with your wiggly toddler and the next you're permanently watching from the sidelines. 

My youngest and I wrapped up our mommy and me ballet class last week, marking the end of the parent participation era. After 10 years of swimming, music, and gymnastics with my three kids, it feels a bit bittersweet to be transitioning from player to spectator. Another milestone that reminds me that time is a thief. 

The humdrum of everyday kid life and the tedious moments that accompany it are destined to be underappreciated. The repetition; the same nursery rhymes; the tiresome pool games; the ballet runs in a circle for the 200th time. But what if the little moments are the foundation for big memories?

It’s hard to see when you’re elbows deep in dirty uniforms and cut-off crusts, but consider this your reminder that time is fleeting - no matter how routine it feels in the moment. That the stack of dishes meant a shared meal. The unmade beds are evidence of a cozy slumber.

So what do we do about it? Can we ever preserve time? 

It’s up to me not to waste this new precious pocket of time. Instead of scrolling my phone while the girls are in ballet, I can walk the track next door or at least grab a coffee and some fresh air. And when I take my youngest back to the pool, I can fully focus on her needs instead of trying to balance my own and cheer from the sidelines.

But back to ballet. Baking muffins after class became part of the ritual. Flavors were discussed on the drive home. More often than not this meant vanilla yogurt muffins with chocolate chips. From the back door, tutu and all, the process would start: preheat the oven, pull out the step stool, and gather ingredients. 

These slow days with only one child at home are few and far between now, so I’ve been trying to savor them. I still have to remind myself to chill when she whisks too vigorously and/or reaches for the eggs. But what’s really the worst that could happen? Letting her take the wheel has proven to be rewarding for us both.

For these muffins, we added raspberries, a touch of cardamom, and a generous crumble on top. I melted the butter so she could stir everything together by hand. Greek yogurt makes them moist and tender.

In the true spirit of our routine, you can bake these up right away. I also tested the batter after a night in the fridge, and they baked up tall and beautiful the next morning - should that better fit your schedule.