Which Dessert is Your Relationship?

Is it a refreshing citrus tart or a stodgy sponge pudding?

Relationships come in all flavours. Some are “gooily” sweet, some have the piquancy of citrus, and others are just too stodgy to stomach. I like to think of my relationship as a delicately sour lemon tart, but with a base of firm, sweet, biscuity pastry-love.

The palate is a sensitive soul, and like every partnership, it has to be able to adjust to a variety of tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. And it is never the individual ingredients, but the thoughtful combination of tastes, perfectly balanced, that make it work. The perfect amount of salt in the caramel, a smidgen of sour in the sweet lemon curd, a little sweet strawberry kick in the thick, creamy cheesecake.

Discover the right texture to complement the flavours

Once your relationship has found its own blend of flavours, it is important to discover just the right texture. Mr. M. and I have a relationship that has held firm for many, many, many years. If that seems one ‘many’ too many, it may be, but our delicious pastry holds this citrus tart together. It is delicate but strong, a perfect crust for hubby’s acerbic wit and my lovely, adorable, perfectly sweet nature.

The blend of taste and texture creates the perfect ‘mouthfeel’ of a relationship.

A dried up, stale cannoli or a sexy chocolate sponge, topped with rich vanilla ice-cream and drizzled with ooey-gooey salted caramel sauce? There’s much to be said for decadence, but sometimes the good old dependable stodge, in a pool of mum-style custard, can still be quite satisfying.

So far, Mr. M.’s citrus tart is still my favourite.

It has not become just a pile of crumbs and yellow goo, leftovers scraped off a dessert plate.

It is the symbol of our love and life together: sour, but not in a tongue-hurty way, and sweet, but not in a tooth-achey way.

A perfect dessert. Relationship. Whatever.

So which dessert is your relationship most like?

A dependable old-school pudding, a decadent Masterchef winning gateaux, or like me and Mr. M., a cheeky little tarte? Only you and your partner can decide the answer to this culinary conundrum, so go, grab a spoon and dig in.