Clutter And A

Clutter!!!

I am beginning to understand the negative effect it has on my life.

After leaving a sprawling home that seemed to expand even more during the eight years I lived there alone, my new abode is quite small.

Yet, I am more than content. I am comfortable and quite satisfied with the efficiency and yes, luxury.

However, it is small.

And while easy to maintain, within seconds I am devastated by clutter.

Yesterday, I decided to bake corn muffins, one of my favorite NY treats. A succulent corn muffin, sliced neatly in half, slathered with butter and toasted until golden brown, is one of my treasured Massapequa Diner memories.

The recipe I cherish is simple, one bowl, no processor needed.

Yet, of course, you need corn meal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, eggs, sour cream and milk. And, of course, pretty paper wrappers for each golden mound of ambrosia.

Not complicated, but when I lined up all the canisters, boxes, measuring cups and spoons, my immaculate granite countertop was immediately in overload.

So, the solution was to move everything. Easily accomplished , and within minutes the round Ethan Allen table that departed with me last year from Massapequa was now totally covered with sundry items, including two muffin pans and a canister of Pam.

The muffins only take a mere 19 minutes to bake; preparation possibly 20. Cleaning up the clutter and returning the apartment to near normal took far longer.

And while the clutter was frankly, a mess, I must say the finished batch of corn muffins was really worth the effort.

The memories of NY continute to erupt in small and interesting packages at odd moments. And I enjoy them all as much as I did the corn muffins.