Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

A Loving Welcome (and Brown Sugar Pound Cupcakes)

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rabbi Shmuley Boteach this morning for an article I am doing for Her Life Magazine. You have probably seen Rabbi Shmuley around the major morning news shows lately promoting his book The Kosher Sutra.  I first became aware of  Rabbi Shmuley through his show on TLC Shalom in the Home. He was on Oprah talking about a couple who had a father who was “broken”. My husband and I started watching Shalom in the Home soon after that and it was like having a weekly marriage therapy session. The issues were real, the families were relatable and the advice Rabbi Shmuley shared was invaluable.

When I was talking to Rabbi Shmuley today, I was reminded of something I had learned a couple of years ago when I was watching Shalom in the Home. Yes, my husband travels a lot, but when he is home one simple little thing that can turn his evening around when he comes home from work is to have the family greet him at the door lovingly when he walks in. I’ll be honest with you… when Nick walks through our door, half the time I am in the middle of making dinner and barely look up at him to say hi, not to mention walk over to embrace him when he comes in. Our relationship is really good, we love each other dearly, but I know that making that one simple gesture when he gets home from work could make a huge impact on the rest of the evening. I would stop whatever I was doing to welcome a guest into our home… why shouldn’t I do the same for my best friend/husband?

This week, Nick is not traveling, so I am going to do a little experiment. I am going to drop everything I am doing and have the kids do the same when he comes home from work. We are going to greet him with hugs and kisses and show our excitement to see him when he walks in. Tonight, he’s going to be greeted with hugs, kisses and these yummy Brown Sugar Pound Cupcakes with Brown-Butter Glaze. He works hard all day long to give us a wonderful life. Welcoming him back home at the end of the day is the least we can do.

What is one small thing you do to help keep your relationship alive?

Brown Sugar Pound Cupcakes with Brown Butter Glaze from Martha Stewart Living

  • 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Make cupcakes as directed in Basic Cupcake How-To, using buttermilk for wet ingredient. Fill each cup 3/4 full, and bake for 25 minutes.
  2. Set rack with cupcakes over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon glaze over tops, and let stand until set. Serve glazed cupcakes immediately.

Brown Butter Glaze

  • 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
  1. Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Carefully pour butter into a bowl, leaving sediment behind.
  2. Add sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk to butter, and stir until smooth. If glaze is too thick, add more milk. Use immediately.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. offthemeathook says

    The little things are so important- they never fail to put both parties in a happier mood. I leave notes in places or stick them in his bag before a trip.

    offthemeathooks last blog post..The Best Crab Cakes

  2. Kate says

    Oh man, you just read my Valentine’s posts….we aren’t having ANY trouble keeping the flame burning but there are a whole lot of little things we do every day, most importantly we kiss and embrace a lot, even if I’m just leaving to go for a walk.

    Kates last blog post..See that nifty new button on the sidebar?

  4. KatieG says

    What a great post and good reminder! I usually try to make sure I give him a kiss right away and tell the kids that Daddy is home so they can come great him. My hubby majorly helps w/ housework, so I also try to at least have some of the dinner mess cleaned up before he gets home so we can sit down in a clean kitchen and enjoy eachother’s company.

    KatieGs last blog post..PASTA GIVEAWAY!

  5. Carrie says

    Nice! Sometimes, when my husband comes back from travel, I get those little butterflies all over again. Thanks for the reminder to express this more often!

  7. Dana says

    Early in our relationship, my husband expressed the need to be greeted when he came in the door. At the time, I thought it was silly, but it can really color our evening. If I do it, things go more smoothly – if I don’t, we are more distant. I also need to just look up from what I am doing and give him the kiss he needs.

    Danas last blog post..Hot and Spicy Soup for a Cold Night

  8. Nikki says

    A great post! I have been really working on telling my husband how much I appreciate him lately. He is a “words of affirmation” guy. We also kiss and hug each time he leaves and comes home. I do have to remind myself though when I am in the middle of dinner to make an effort to acknowledge him when he walks in the door.

  9. Claire says

    Oh to have someone to greet when I (or he) got home! I think that’s a wonderful experiment…it’ll make his week. 🙂 Those cupcakes look delicious! Pound cake reminds me of my Granny.

    Claires last blog post..Steak and Apples

  14. Janet says

    That’s wonderful! It really brought a smile to my face. I will have to take this to heart, and do it. My hubby works at night, and as we are getting up in the morning he is just coming in the front door and ready for bed. As I’m sure I do not wake with a choir of Angels around me, I think this would make him feel much better when he comes home!

    Janets last blog post..Wow, 100th post today! Giveaway, too!

  15. Diana says

    I like making brown sugar loafs but your glaze/frosting looks even more tempting. And you’re right…baked goods are simple gestures that brighten up anyone’s day.

  16. Julia says

    I think that’s a great idea! Too often we take for granted the most important people in our lives — nothing like a hero’s welcome to remind him how much he means!

    Julias last blog post..Planning Your Spring and Summer Garden (and Give-Away)

  17. Cat says

    At my bridal shower I was given little cards with “advice” on them. The one that stuck was “greet your spouse with a kiss.. that lasts at least 10 seconds every night.” I did it for the first 3 years… but have slacked off a little the last 3 years. Thanks for inspiring me to do it again.

    ~Cat
    PS: Soooo glad he’s home for the week!

    Cats last blog post..Wings of Love – Chapter Three

  19. Jen says

    Thanks again for the inspiration you share! Each morning I make sure to kiss goodbye my sleeping man and our pup. He once mentioned that there will be a day when I will no longer make this “stop of affection,” but each day I strive to prove him wrong! 🙂

    Jens last blog post..2007 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc

  20. grace says

    let us know exactly how he reacts–i’m anxious to know!!
    and clearly, i’m anxious to wrap my teeth around something with such a lovely glaze as these. 🙂

  23. Mrs. L says

    My hubby mentioned a couple of times how wonderful it was to be greeted when he comes home from work so I try to be cheery and give hugs and kisses (he does the same for me if he gets home first). I really like this ritual of ours. Of course if I greeted him with these cupcakes who knows what might happen! 😉

  24. camille says

    I guess it says that the person coming in the door is more important than anything anyone else might be doing at that moment. That’s a nice feeling. I usually get home later, and he’s usually soaking his legs in the bath at the time, and I certainly don’t expect him to spring up and run out to greet me!

    camilles last blog post..Mocha Chocolate-Chip Muffins

  27. Sandie says

    Aww…so sweet! A tip I picked up long ago was to always kiss your husband goodbye (a deep loving kiss, not just a quick peck) and greet him with an affectionate hug and kiss when you meet again next (whether at lunch, after work, etc.) So simple, and much like the idea you presented here. It’s all about showing daily (and often!) appreciation for your spouse. After all, who doesn’t want to feel loved and appreciated (and who doesn’t enjoy making someone feel that way)? 🙂

    Great post, Kristen!

    Sandies last blog post..Wednesday InnSider: Big Mill Bed and Breakfast (Recipe: Gluten-Free Sweet Italian Sausage Custard Quiche with Hash Brown Potato Crust)

  28. Diana says

    That’s a great thing to do. We had a mini marriage retreat over the weekend talking about what’s great in our marriage and what we wish was different. Then we came up with ideas to work on what we want to change. Greeting each other when someone gets home from work was one of the things on our list. We have a good marriage, but spending dedicated time discussing our marriage made a big difference! It helped us reaffirm a lot of things and really know that our relationship is the top priority in our lives.

    Dianas last blog post..Valentine’s Romantic Dinner for Two

  31. Kyle says

    WOW! Those cupcakes look so good.

    I must agree, when my wife gives me a great kiss before I leave or when I return, man, it can make my whole day. And, I hug her out of the blue as often as I can. It’s a nice moment that reminds us of why we’re together. And, I notice the kids typically watch us when we hug or kiss, and they smile, and usually run over to join in the hug.

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