Breakfast with Puggle: English Muffins

Puggle is a human alarm clock.  One who rarely changes his wake up times.  For a while, we were enjoying sleep to 8:00 am.  Then one day he decided to start observing Puggle Daylight Savings Time and began waking at 7:00 am.  A few weeks after that, he shifted Puggle Standard Time again and wake up call became 6:00 am.

Imagine waking every morning with no snooze button.  But, it's hard to be grumpy when your wake up call is a smile and a happy stream of gurgling and cooing chatter.  He's a morning person, my Puggle.  Alas.

After getting dressed, Pug cruises around the kitchen in his walker while I prepare breakfast, which of late has been yogurt, and waffles, or more regularly, English muffins.

I'm deeply fond of English muffins -- so much so that after Pug was born, I was eating about 6 a day (they and Thin Mints comprised breakfast and lunch most days).  My poison of choice -- Thomas' English muffins, but only because I'd eaten them since childhood.  It wasn't until I sent Hubby out to the store one day that I discovered other, BETTER muffins.  And soon after that, I thought, surely someone has a recipe?  And of course some one did -- one of my dearest and favorite bloggers -- the wonderful Barbara at Winos and Foodies.

Her recipe is as easy as making the dough the night before and waking up to deflating, cutting and shaping the dough, then popping them in on a griddle.  Twenty minutes later, you have perfect English muffins --complete with nooks and crannies!  -- ready to be slathered with butter.  They can also be lightly toasted. 

Puggle likes his English muffins plain and warm -- no butter.  We sit at the dining room table and he waits patiently as I tear little pieces for him -- or I'll hold out a bit and he'll do his T-Rex impression:  he sinks in with his brand spanking new teeth (four on top, four on bottom) and yanks his head to one side, neatly tearing the bread.  Seriously, who knew that having a child was such a comedy show?

It being winter, it's still somewhat pinkish when we start our breakfast, but as we progress, the sun comes up and we watch the day brighten together and he swings his little feet against his chair as he eats and gabs at me, sounding out noises that will soon be words. 

I have so many mornings left in my life to sleep late; but how many of these mornings will I have to share breakfast with Puggle?  Happiness doesn't know how to be tired.

Barbara's recipe is here.

Personal notes:  her recipe calls for "standard" and "high grade flour."  I used King Arthur all-purpose and bread flour respectively with great results.  She uses one teaspoon of salt, but I like a bit more savoriness in mine so I used 1 tablespoon.

Comments

[Ivonne]

That sounds like the perfect morning ritual to me! All the best to you, Puggle and the rest of your family for 2008!

[beastmomma]

Happy New Year!
I hope that you have many more wonderrful and delicious mornings with Puggle.

[Cath]

Ivonne -- I find myself hard pressed to think of anything more perfect... :-) Thanks for the lovely words -- and all the best for you in 2008 as well!

J -- Happy New Year to you too dear! Come visit soon - or, we'll find our way out there to you!

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

You are so right Cath, there will be plenty of mornings to sleep in. The morning you describe here, these are limited and oh so beautiful. Make a recording of that happy stream of gurgling and cooing chatter, I wish I had one!

[jeena]

Hi there you have a great blog. I love English muffins also your picture looks so delicious. :-)

[Holly]

Hi! I love the english muffin idea. I have an active 4-year old and new baby. Sadly, I was so sick during pregnancy that my 4-year old got horribly addicted to pop tarts *sigh* bad mommy. What a great alternative, and so nice to find another foodie blogging about life with kids in the mix! My blog is just getting started, but I hope to do it even a smidgen as nice as yours. Best wishes!

[barbara]

I still enjoy breakfast with my babies when they are around...even though they are 6 feet tall and talk in full sentences. I'm so glad Puggle likes the muffins.