If At First You Don't Succeed

Music performances, vegan bakeries and number two muffins

Happy first day of spring from my neck of the woods where my husband is proudly wearing his Hawaiian shirt collection on his days off whereas I’m spending my days off huddled underneath an enormous Snuggie-style fleece sweater that we got for free (it’s great) with the heater on. They say opposites attract and it’s true. For what it’s worth, we both drink a lot of coffee.

Another thing we agree on is how great our kids did at their recent spring recital. On Sunday, we went downtown to Portland State University’s Lincoln Hall to see Lily and James perform their pieces in front of an audience—a nerve-wracking experience even for me (and I don’t play instruments). To say that I am proud would be an understatement. I’m floored by their progress. A year ago, I had zero kids who played musical instruments; now, I have two.

I may have entered my 40s now, but there are still things I’ve yet to learn. Last week, I revealed that I did not know what passata was, which made me realize that my ignorance about certain products or dietary restrictions could be quelled with a little trip to a different part of town.

Enter Division Street in Portland.

Division is a street that stretches for miles, starting all the way from the industrial SE/waterfront to Gresham, OR. I’ve driven down Division many times in my life and it never fails to amaze me how a single street can have so many personalities. There’s an invisible class barrier that becomes apparent as you pass certain corners, where the sidewalks are a little cleaner, the potholes suddenly disappear, the people dress a little nicer, and there are more cafes, restaurants and venues to choose from.

This was certainly the case for Division and SE 11th Avenue, where you can find Shoofly Vegan Bakery. I stopped by on a late Wednesday morning because a) I’d been eyeing this bakery online, and b) I know very little about vegan baking. And so, I decided to find out once and for all.

Even though Shoofly is located around the corner of train tracks, it doesn’t stop the neighborhood from being one of the nicest I’d ever seen. It’s the kind of neighborhood I would live in…if only I made $400,000 a year. I can’t think of a better word than to call it “bougie.”

The cafe was open and expansive, with a delectable array of baked goods behind the case along with a full service coffee bar. I chose a vegan blueberry muffin and a drip coffee and took my seat at a table in the corner, where I watched people go about their days. It felt somewhat awkward and yet, normal at the same time.

Now you know why I chose to visit a vegan bakery, but what I haven’t revealed is why I chose a blueberry muffin. This was because, dear friends, I failed at making muffins this week.

Earlier this year, I made a fake New Years’ resolution—to become a better baker. And I take this vague goal very seriously. Thus, on my days off I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen with different recipes. This week was about muffins.

I made these morning glory muffins, a recipe that promises to “to keep everyone singing your praises well past breakfast.” Unfortunately, that did not happen, for when my kids saw said muffins, they wrinkled their eyebrows. Then my daughter Lily said, “That looks like something that comes out of Jackie’s¹…behind.”

“Yeah,” echoed my son James. “Those are number two muffins!”

Number two muffins, aka “not kid approved muffins”

Yes, children are the best at giving you direct, honest feedback, and I felt a direct blow to my confidence, indeed.

But to me, constructive criticism only fuels my fire. I am not the type of person who gives up that easily, and so, I tried for the second time…without success.

Again, I blamed it on the recipe. Instinctively, it felt wrong to me. And it was.

I presented my second effort to my daughter, who (again) said, “No thanks.”

The sad and embarrassing muffins (2nd try)

Alright, I thought, I will try again…with a different recipe.

They say third time’s the charm, and I’m happy to report that I finally succeeded. The third set of muffins were light and airy, made with fresh blueberries and tasted like heaven for breakfast. It’s even better the next day. You can find the recipe here.

FINALLY some good muffins!!

As for that blueberry muffin from Shoofly? Vegan or not, it was delicious. Who knew? After finishing off the muffin and my coffee (which wasn’t bad either) I made it a personal goal to try and make the best vegan blueberry muffin next. Wish me luck.

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Delightful Discoveries of the Week:

This week, I read two really beautiful pieces—both were topics were deeply tough and personal, and reminds me that difficult topics can be written in a tender, meaningful way.

Live a life worth living

This is a letter that the late writer Julie Yip-Williams wrote to her daughters before she passed away in 2018. It’s about the lessons she’s learned on life and living, how being born blind taught her to become more resilient and to look at things differently.

Bloodlines

This essay won f(r)iction’s 2024 nonfiction competition and it’s easy to see why. The writer tackles a very personal topic with such grace, interweaving her experiences growing up as a female and how that shaped her experiences as an adult. Themes of belonging, womanhood, and infertility resonate throughout the essay.

1. Jackie is our springer spaniel.