. . .
My family is wearing me out.
My brother, Adopamop, along with Pumpkin and Turnip, arrived just over two weeks ago. And now my sister, Haddy, is here. She brought Luke the Dog with her. They are all staying with Bill and Rosie Beaucoup.
There is a lot of driving back and forth. The driving isn’t so bad, but The Beaucoups live in the freakin’ sticks and there are a lot of critters that like to randomly cross the highway out there. 2.0 and I saw A BEAR by the road. And a deer was standing there the other day. And their friends (racoons, porcupines, squirrels, crows, etc.) all like to hang out by the highway as well. So, each and every drive is spent scanning. Constantly scanning for my furry friends. Because I love them, and given the chance, I would rub my face in their fur. And let them sleep in my bed with me. I wouldn’t even care if they were the sort of bed-mates that like to dig their knees into my back. So, running them over at high speed is not an option.
Also, French kids sleep in. They aren’t total a-holes like North American kids. They don’t get up at 4:30 am. Nope. They lay in bed in the morning, reading Le Monde, and want you to bring cappuccino and croissants to their rooms. But because French kids sleep in, it means they don’t go to bed until real late like. After they’ve had wine and stuff. So grown-up game night doesn’t start until 9:30 or 10 pm – after the aforementioned wine, a dance party and some storybook reading. Honestly, at that time of night, Luke the Dog and I are ready for bed. And we’ve noticed that Haddy really likes to take her time when planning her next Carcassonne move. So, I get home late at night. And wake with 2.0′s alarm. In case you don’t know – people in the construction industry get up very early. (Have I ever told you that 2.0′s official title is: Erections Specialist? You can’t make that sh*t up.)
Basically, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. So, I’ve had about three batches of these muffins in the past two weeks. Mostly because the original recipe had some… issues. I fixed them for you. And also? They are easy to make. Even if you are feeling tired and stupid. (That’s a side effect of fun.) These muffins have a nice balance of tart and sweet – like a little bit of sunshine in your mouth. They’ll get you going. But just so you know (and as the name implies), they would also be a perfect little afternoon tea cake. A soft, cakey muffin topped with a sugary, lemony glaze.
You should know that tonight is my last night of teaching until September. This means the Summer of Woot Woot will kick into mega high gear at about 9:05 pm Atlantic Time. Also? Tomorrow night, I’m supposed to go to dinner with my brother and sister. Like, just us. We’ve never done this before. I’ve had dinner with my sister many times. And we’ve each dined with my brother. But all three of us together? This will be the first time. I’m feeling apprehensive about it. I mean, what if it turns out the only thing we have in common is… our parents? Cripes. On the plus side, we’ll probably manage to sort out who gets what when Bill and Rosie Beaucoup… you know… head to that big bakery in the sky.
. . .
Lemon Tea Muffins - adapted from a recipe found in rosie beaucoup’s collection - print and bake
Yields 12 muffins.
For the muffins:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup melted butter, cooled slightly
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2-3 lemons)
- zest from one lemon
- 2 large eggs
For the topping:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a standard sized muffin tin (12 muffin wells).
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest and eggs. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Divide the batter evenly between the greased muffin wells. (I use a 1/4 cup measure to make this easier.) Bake 12-16 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool for a few minutes in the muffin tin, and then remove to cool on a wire rack. Cover with topping while still warm.
To make the topping, combine the sugar, lemon juice and melted butter in a small bowl. Mix until well combined and smooth. While muffins are still warm, spoon the topping over each, using back of spoon to spread over top. The topping will drip over the edges. Roll with it.
Allow to cool completely before serving.
I could totally roll with a few batches of these muffins! Baked treats with lemon are my favourite.
LiFE is such a better place with you in it.
Keep baking, eating + writing!!
Awww! Thanks, Teri!
Well I guess you’re lucky they live in France, sounds liked you’d be way too tired if say, they moved here. All that wine and dance parties……can wear a girl down! Luckily the lemon muffins are keeping your strength up!! I LOVE all things lemon! Cleanses the soul or something.
Just bought a bunch of lemons and was looking for around delicious desserts – these look delicious and easy! Can’t wait to try it out!
The last time my brother, sister and I ate dinner together with no one else present at our table, it was in a psyche ward which probably was the best and safest possible surroundings for the occasion! I wish I was making this shizzle up. My six foot five beast of a rugby captain/army scholorship brother kept being harrassed by ladies that had been locked up so long they had forgotten what a man looked like and my sister was giving some Labour party campaign speech to me and I spiked her drink with an antipsychotic because she was boring me and now, four years later, she still refuses to take drinks from me and I don’t really blame her to be honest, especially since I then went on to drug my then-boyfriend with my medication because he had some wacked out sleep cycle and kept me awake and he was unconscious for three days and I thought he may have died.
I should know when to stop talking.
Juls, this comment? TOTALLY AWESOME. Also, a great cautionary tale. I was totally prepped for the Beaucoup Sibling dinner, and ate my body weight in sushi. (I had anti-psychotic drugs in my pocket. You know… just in case.)
We need to get the word out about the necessity for carrying anti psychotics on one’s person. You never know when you’ll need to knock out a boring person. Glad to hear your dinner went without stress or duress and your joints will thank you dearly for all that sushi!
In other news, I totally have a massive bag of lemons – it’s like a pretty, citrusy sign. I like that you worked hard to ‘tweak’ the recipe to perfection – it always instils confidence and makes the tweaker seem super wise.
First of all, Luke the Dog is gorgeous! Second, I want to have French kids! Dangit, but it’s too late, because the thought of raising another teenager makes me want to jump off a cliff, French or not. Thirdly, I’m married to an Italian, so believe me, I know the title Erections Specialist, when I see it. (wink, wink)
Your lemon muffins are gorgeous, as are all the things you make! I was just thinking about making lemon cupcakes this weekend…maybe I will switch it to muffins.
Enjoy your family ~ April
Hmm…I’m thinking thirdly should have been lastly…guess the title threw me off.
I know how you feel, I’m totally worn out… These muffins look so nice and cute, Movita – perfection
. That’s a really odd title 
. Yummy 
. Also, I’ve always wanted to visit Carcassonne.
These little tea cakes sound lovely. And I have all the ingredients, so I think I’ll be taking a batch to my family this weekend. I hope you find time to relax and rest this summer–which is part of what a vacation is suppose to be about!
I had to stop watching Dawson’s Creek long enough to re-read the part about the a-holes. Then I read it out loud to mini-me. There is nothing like a good guffaw. Hope you got your coffee in bed. With oodles of these muffins with it.
Oh, how I love Luke the Dog! He whimpered with happiness when last we met which always makes me want to wag my tail! Lemon treats and pictures of young Luke–that’s all a girl could
ask for. Love and cupcakes. M
Luke should be in your neighbourhood very soon! Also, friend, you need to send me your mailing address… so I can send you a wooly friend of your own! xox
You are flippin’ adorable. I can’t get quite enough! (Same would probably be true of your lovely lemony sweetly tart tea cakes. Yeah, I’m pretty sure.) you simply the best.
Such pretty and pretty tasty muffins! I’m on somewhat of a lemon kick myself. Last week it was cupcakes, and also I made some blueberry lemon muffins the other night that I’ll be writing about soon (once I’m done doing all kinds of stuff for my kids, thereby proving that even though they don’t live with, me they can’t live without me). Sounds like you’re having an absolute blast with your family – enjoy! Hope you have fun at the siblings dinner!
These tea muffins are so ladylike! Just like you!… *snort*
I snorted just READING that comment.
When life gives you house guests, bears, squirrels and lemons, make lemonade — or lemon muffins, in this case. Hell, make them anyway — life is short.
Dear Rachael, your muffins are adorable! I love, love, love your photos!
Lulu, xo
Thanks, Lulu! That’s a real compliment coming from a photographer such as yourself… xox
such pretty muffins! I wanna make these for my kids. they will surely love it!
Quite a few frightening comments here. Further mentions of Erection Specialists (shudder), tales of illicit drugging…. yikes.
So… North American kids get up early, huh? I thought they were all fat lazy video gaming experts who stayed up late talking smack to each other online and then slept in until 11? I guess your French relatives have a few years until they reach that stage, though. They’re in the Le Monde / wine drinking stage right now.
I hope things settle down for you soon! I’ve learned a valuable lesson. If I have kids, make sure they’re French kids. Oh and yummy muffins!
Added bonus: very cute accents.
Mmmm, these muffins look good. I’m so glad you fixed them for us. Sounds like you’re having a lovely time with the family. Enjoy your time off from teaching and dinner with the siblings.
I love these muffins! … but even more I loved your post … especially this part: “Even if you are feeling tired and stupid. (That’s a side effect of fun.)” and the part about the animals cuz I feel exactly the same way.
Luke is adorable.. I’d let him jump into my bed and dig his paws into my back:D I hope your pillowy lemon bites of happiness help you sleep tonight!! And good luck with your siblings, they must be a bit like you.. so it will be fun!! xx
Enjoyed your blog today! These muffins look wonderful I don’t cook much anymore but still enjoy food for sure.
Movita, I like a little sunshine in my mouth, so I can’t wait to give these lovely little muffins a try!
OMG do you think it’s the same bear from your mom’s back yard–the one your mom said was a rabbit? He’s probably by the side of the road because he wants a lift back to the Beaucoups. He’s also probably looking for 2.0, since he almost ate him last time.
The part about the french kids reading Le Monde and waiting in bed for their espressos was my absolute favorite part of this post, until I got to the part about the bakery in the sky. So funny.
I think it was a different bear. This one was smaller, perhaps quite young. Probably in need of a soft bead and some company. But 2.0 (still upset after the last bear encounter), said that, “… for the last time! WE’RE NOT LETTING WILD ANIMALS SLEEP IN OUR BED.”
He can be so stubborn.
Yum. I’ve got some lemon-loving fiends in my family. They will love these muffins.
So true about those European kiddos. My husband and I would never last until late at night like that. The kids would be awake, and we’d turn in while they partied. Sad.
Nice image of you rubbing your face in the bear’s fur. I would love to see that happen.
Oh, it will happen. It. WILL. Happen.
The sensations of exhaustion you describe actually has a name, Parenthood. This is basically how I’ve been feeling for about 7 1/2 years now which explains why people often look at me strangely and I nod off in the middle of meals.
Please bring me muffins, I might fade away otherwise.
Oh! THAT’S parenthood! I kept hearing rumours and stuff…
I say we make your kids walk here to pick up the muffins. That outta keep ‘em busy for, like, a day.
Yay! Done work – that’s awesome. Now you need to come down to visit us for some serious Carcassonne while you have a break. And other assorted awesome games.
Deeeeelightful! We’re playing the Carcassonne extension this evening – with cathedrals, fairies and dragons. Yikes!
Aw, so nice you get to spend time with your fam! Even if it involves a lot of driving. These muffins sound and look good…that one with the sunglasses looks particularly tasty.
Wow! I love how simple and delish this recipe is. I can almost taste the lemony sugar icing…cannot wait to bake it!
This muffin looks absolutely delicious. Its now on my “to – make” list. Thank you
Movita – this looks absolutely fabulous. Lemon is one of my favorites next to chocolate of course. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
There will be some more chocolate treats heading across the street in the coming weeks… get ready!!
Oh you crack me up Movita! Lol. Love the bits about French children and their ways. And these lemon muffins are just darling! And such an easy recipe too. Little sunshiny cushions.
these lemon tea muffins make me extremely happy. I should have said this before now, but my google reader also crazy. not nearly as crazy as yours, but crazy a little bit.
also, now i’m wondering if my stella is french; she too sleeps in, and goes to bed around the same time as the wee frenchies. no cute accent, however. does she get french points for lazing about the house telling me what to do?
i just noticed the baking school countdown calendar on the side of the website: this will be SO helpful, because i needed to know when to have my “homework” picked out.
maybe it’s just summer talking, but i’ve been craving lemon like woah. these look absolutely perfect.
I made these yesterday and they were delish. I had to convert cups to grams and all but they still worked! I made big muffins not fancy little ones because here in France we like BIG! Thanks, another one for the file:)