Rhubarb Cornmeal Muffins and gaining perspective - Simple Bites (2024)

I almost didn’t post this muffin recipe because they turned out a little flatter and uglier than I had hoped, certainly not ideal food styling material.

I was experimenting with a new recipe, inspired by my thriving rhubarb patchand spurred on by a craving for a snacking muffin with a tender crumb. Of course I was out of muffin tin liners, and so instead of pretty little round tops, the batter spread across the pan and fused together in the oven.

The taste and texture were there, though. Light and airy, spicedand moist, with tangy pockets of rhubarb, and crunchy addicting edges. What could be seen as a mishap could also be interpreted as atriumph.

Ah, these rhubarb muffins were a beautiful mess – and a perfect example of my life these days. With that analogy, I am bringing them to you, along with far more story than most of you probably care to read. If that’s the case, just skip to the recipe at the bottom of the post, because these muffins are worthy of your fresh rhubarb stash.

This pastweek I have been wrestling withperspective, circling subjects that leave me feeling helpless and trying to gain an outlook where I have peace, no matter what. It feels impossible, especially as my mind runs every scenario imaginable. Endlessclichés comes to mind – just go with the flow, take life as it comes, find the silver lining – and they are maddeningly unhelpful in a world that demands concrete answers and continues to spin furiously fast no matter how we feel.

Three very different, very personal, and decidedly grown-up circ*mstances collided in my life last week and sent me into such a tailspin, I think I came the closest to a panic attack as I have ever experienced. I like to think that on a normal day, I would have received these situations with calm clarity, but nothing is really ever ‘normal’ around here with three small children, a bustling homestead and another cookbook manuscript taking shape.

So these circ*mstances. Not entirely mine to share, though they all impact me directly. My feelings on each situation are split down the middle, each part equally terrified and thrilled, conflicted and resolved.

I realize this is all hugely vague. And I am sorry. But I have toshare something, because life has shifted slightly for us. My husband and I spent our 13th wedding anniversary fielding calls and texts, and making lists. Then we skipped dessert at the restaurant, hit the pavement and walked in quiet conversation for two solid hours around the streets of Mile End, trying to gain perspective and reach a place of peace. I wish I could say we arrived.

The boys watched some Star Wars moviethis past week with Danny, and since then, a quote from the flick has come up more than once, as he reminded them about homework, chores and general productivity:

“Your focus determines your reality.”*

I must have heard Danny say it ten times before I realized it was relevantto me too, somehow. I’m still thinking on that one, and how I can apply it to my various situations.

In the meantime, I’m going to keep on keepin’ on, give one-hundred percent support to those close to me, and be thankful for everything that crosses my path. Here’s hoping I can gain a little more perspective along the way.

*It was Liam Neeson’s character, Qui-Gon, who said this, for you movie buffs.

What are you making with rhubarb this spring?