Maple creme brulee for two.
Crème brulee is my ace in the hole. It’s the kind of thing I like to keep in my back pocket and pull out when I need it. Frequently, I have 2 ramekins in the fridge awaiting a sprinkling of sugar and a pass of the torch. It’s not a bad thing to serve when your boyfriend or husband is a little mad at you. One bite of rich creaminess paired with crunchy sugar and you’re out of the dog house. You can trust me on this one.
See, I wasn’t going to talk about this because I like to pretend my life is a perfect square box all wrapped up with pretty ribbon. But it ain’t. My life is not all clean counters, empty dishwashers, and non-mildew smelling sponges. Nor is it all petite ramekins, small whisks and eggs that perfectly separate themselves.
Mr. Dessert For Two and I spent all of last month apart. I decided on my birthday that I wanted to be alone on the road of life. Do birthdays make anyone else do crazy things? It wasn’t so much him as it was that the idea of marriage paralyzes me with fear. I wanted to push him away from me just in case we got married and things didn’t work out exactly like I thought they should. Just in case I woke up next to him and hated my life one day. In case my logic is failing you: I feel like if I wake up alone and hate my life, it’s my own fault. I like to be in complete control of my life: my time, my space, my feelings, my heart. I want to be the only one in charge. Yes, it’s a lonely life, but it’s a safe life. If I love no one, then no one can let me down. If I didn’t have everything I wanted in life, it was up to me to get it—I don’t want to depend on anyone.
I feel a little like a freak: I don’t know why marriage terrifies me, while every other woman is elated at the thought of a big white dress. I don’t know how other women can put on a shiny diamond ring everyday and announce to the world that they have found the only person with whom they want to spend their life. What if you meet someone great at 50 and you’re stuck with the person you married at 27? What do you do?! These thoughts used to race through my head almost daily.
The thing about me and Mr. Dessert For Two is that marriage has always been on the table: he told me on our third date that I'm the woman he wants to marry and he asked me to “just let him know in my own little way that I was ready.” When he said that almost a year ago, I instantly picked a fight and pushed him away. That’s what any sensible woman does when the perfect man walks in your life, right? Tell me I'm not the only one.
Well, last month was a long one. I did a lot of thinking, and I’ve decided that the 27th year of my life is going to be a good one. The path Mr. Dessert For Two and I want to travel on sounds much better than the one I was planning alone. We have plans to buy land and create a farm that’s more than just a source of income: we want our farm to be the center of our lives, and maybe even the center of our little town. We decided we’d rather have 50 acres close to the city than 500 acres far outside the city because life is richer with people in it---including husbands.
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On a small but very special side note: I'd like to thank all Veterans for their service today, especially Mr. Dessert For Two. And I'd also like to wish the Marine Corps a very happy 236th birthday. Ooo-rah!
Makes 2 ramekins of maple creme brulee made with maple syrup. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Maple Creme Brulee for Two
Ingredients
Instructions
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 458Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 438mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 0gSugar: 31gProtein: 12g
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Love!!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Well you've sure had a big month! The farm, your realizations about your relationship, all the while making some great looking creme brulee. I wish you two the best...and owning a farm??! how cool!
Kathryn says
I can completely understand your logic and I think it's something that a lot of women (and men) struggle with. Congratulations though on reaching some big decisions but it sounds like you've really thought about it and that your 27th year is going to be pretty darn awesome!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I've never made creme brulee but this sounds amazing!
Making a commitment like marriage really is scary but sometimes the best things in life are the scariest. Mr. Dessert for Two sounds like a great guy and I wish I had the chance to meet him in CA.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
it's awesome that you made that decision for your 27th year. and i have to say that marriage can be hard, and i was lucky enough to have parents who made it look like a breeze and still adore one another today. it's the most unique and special relationship ever. it will build you up and it will wear you down. and at the end of the day, honestly, i just kick myself that i didn't do it sooner!
Cookbook Queen says
Marriage is hard, and it never stops being a little scary. But nothing good comes without a risk, that's just the way it is. I truly wish you both the best.
And also, could you throw a third ramekin in the fridge? You know...for when I come over?
Yeah, I sorta just invited myself. I do that.
Bev Weidner says
<3!
Lauren says
LOVE IT!
Lauren says
You are definitely not the only one. I had plans to get married later in life, and thought it would just come naturally to be excited about marriage. When my husband proposed, though, I had a mild panic attack. It took me until the day before our wedding to be completely at peace with the whole thing, but he really proved that day that he is in this for the long haul and is willing to work through anything for our relationship. When you truly know that, it makes everything a lot better.
And I have to say, married life is AMAZING. I have no regrets.
Analivia says
I love the story, I love the recipe. I, too, am 27 and have the man of my dreams, only I'm terrified of the aisle. We're kids of a divorce generation, and we've seen how marriages too often turn out. Congratulations on the farm-plans. My fella is talking about a cabin!