Cranberry Orange Bran Muffins

Do you know the muffin man? Remember that song? I sing it every time I have a muffin. That’s what happens when you’ve had 3 children and you are forced to listen to this song a zillion times. I can bet I’ll be singing this tune to myself when I’m rocking back and forth in an old age home, one day looking out the window and ALL ALONE.

I absolutely love to treat myself to a big fat muffin once in a while. In fact, there is a coffee shop around the corner from me that I drop into to pick up a fresh muffin on my way to work. The only issue with this coffee shop is that they NEVER bake enough muffins and by the time I get there in the morning some yolt with an office staff of 8 clears the rack of them before I even have a chance to walk through the door. It’s one of the most disappointing things ever. Your mind is set for a MUFFIN and they are GONE. An empty plate. Just crumbs. How stupid is that?

There’s only one way to combat these muffin hogs……..BAKE THEM YOURSELF.

I had some leftover wheat bran hanging around from my breakfast smoothie bowls so I hauled out the baking tins and went to MUFFIN TOWN.

And what about these parchment paper fancy liners? Aren’t they amazing? I’ve had several requests on Instagram as to where I purchased them. They are made by a company called Paper Chef and are available in Toronto at the following locations which you can check out here → Paper Chef Products

As far as these muffins went, the intent was to take them to my physiotherapy clinic to hand out as a treat. (Yes, I have a knee injury….most likely from running in and out of the muffin joint).

You know there’s a story coming right?

Here’s what happened. I prepared the muffins and wrapped them up nice and cozy in tin foil. I left them on my stairs near my keys so that I wouldn’t forget to take them.

I took my car keys and forgot the muffins. This happens a lot. More so, it’s my husband who cannot leave the house without leaving something behind.

This is how a typical day or evening goes:

My coat is on.

Steve’s coat is on.

Steve leaves the house to “prepare” his car for my arrival. Why? Because he has all his work crap in the front seat of his car and needs to MOVE it so that I can plant my butt there when we go out together.

He leaves me the keys in the door and tells me that I needn’t rush outside until he honks the horn.

I hear the horn. Set the alarm and proceed to the car.

The second I hit the seat he says “where’s my phone”?

EVERY              SINGLE            TIME!!!!

Now.

How am I supposed to know where his phone is? He starts searching. High and low. Low and high. Under and over and THEN asks me to phone him. Keep in mind, I’m sitting right next to him.

The end result usually is this……….I phone him and the phone is on SILENT. Why? Oh, many many reasons. I still have no clue why someone would put their phone on silent in the middle of the day UNLESS……..they are napping. Which happens from time to time.

Back to the muffin story. Remember I left the  muffins on the stairs and went to my physio appointment? Yes, well, Steve had an appointment in the same clinic right after me. I phoned him to ask him to bring the muffins. NO ANSWER. I phoned again. NO ANSWER. I texted him. NO RESPONSE. I called again………NOTHING.

After giving up, I went in for my appointment and forgot about him for 30 minutes, expecting to see him at the clinic at 5:30 p.m.

When I came out to the waiting room there was NO STEVE. I started to worry ( a bit ). I called him again and guess what? HE ANSWERED. He completely forgot about the appointment and didn’t get my messages BECAUSE……………………….

HIS PHONE WAS ON ……………….

SILENT.

The good news was, he brought the muffins to the clinic.

Better late than silent.