Miz Helen's Orange Tea Muffins

You might know by now I hate to waste anything.  I made Irish Soda Bread, Buttermilk Chocolate Cookies and there was half a quart of buttermilk left to go into something yummy. I also had 2 little oranges in the bowl leftover from the bag of oranges I gave to John and Elsie. This was perfect cause the recipe called for 2 oranges! 

I visit so many wonderful blogs and this recipe is from
Miz Helen's Country Cottage. This recipe is from Miz Helen's  Aunt Ann. I asked permission before adding the recipe to the blog.  I'm so honored to share it with everyone. Thank you Miz Helen!

Leda's birthday was in December and she wanted an orange cake. Let's just say I'm not a cake maker. It came out ok, she was polite and said it was good but it sure didn't meet my standards. She loves anything orange and since we will be leaving soon I want to make her as many goodies as I can before we head back to NY. She had a visit with the eye doctor and lets say she needed something special when she got home. I showed up with 4 mini muffins and 1 large one. Added the glaze to the the mini's, none to the large.

Wow, did she get them down in a hurry and told me to bring more over! Miz Helen- 5 thumbs up :-)

I saved a few for my gal Polly. I think she's gonna like this recipe also.

Ingredients:

2 cups Flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 sticks unsalted butter ( I softened it)
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
Zest of 2 oranges
1 teaspoon orange extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar until creamy with a electric mixer.

Add one egg at a time into the butter and sugar combination, I usually let my eggs come to room temp before I start baking. Mix until well combined.

Add the orange extract and mix well.

Add the flour, adding a little at a time and continue to combine all the flour making sure it mixed well.

In a small bowl add the buttermilk and the baking soda and make sure the baking soda is dissolved.

Combine the buttermilk to the butter, sugar, egg, orange extract. Stir making sure the buttermilk is mixed in.

Add 3/4 of the orange zest to batter and again mix and make sure it well combined.

Pour batter into greased muffin tins- I used mini muffins and standard size in pretty cupcake shells.

Bake in your preheated oven for 12- 14 mins ( I baked mine mini's 11 minutes) I didn't time the standard. Just watched them and when they were golden brown I took them out.

Orange Glaze:

Juice of 2 oranges- enough to make 1 cup juice
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon orange zest- from the 2 oranges 

Directions:

In a saucepan heat the OJ and the brown sugar and cook till it comes to a boil. Glaze the muffins when they come out of the oven.

I love my new plate! It was Leda's and she wanted me to have it. It's so pretty.