Muffins for the Weekend

It's recipes like this that make being in the kitchen easy and wonderful.  If all recipes were as simple and the results so perfectly satisfying, I know that all of us would be cooking much more often.  This is an old one.  A newspaper clipping that my mom cut out probably 40 or so years ago.  Which tells me automatically that it's good.  Homemade orange muffins.  What a soothing way to start a Saturday or Sunday morning.  They can be made in a snap and with ingredients you most likely have in your pantry.  It's also a recipe that's perfect to have children help with.  No electrical appliances!  And they love to help stirring and putting on the crunch topping!  I hope you'll make them for your family soon.  And keep this thought close, as well...soon it will be sunny and warm.  Take these outside, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy every bite.

Orange Muffins with Crunch Topping
Makes 12

1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp. grated orange rind

Crunch Topping:

Combine 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and 2 Tbsp. melted butter in a medium bowl.  Mix until crumbly.

Orange Glaze:

Combine 3/4 cup sifted confectioner's sugar, 1 Tbsp. orange juice and 1/2 tsp. vanilla in a small bowl.  Stir until smooth.

For Muffins:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  In a medium bowl, combine the beaten egg, oil, milk and orange rind.  Add all at once to the dry ingredients, stirring just enough to moisten. (Don't over mix!)  Spoon the batter into a paper-lined (or greased) muffin pan, filling two-thirds full.  Prepare the Crunch Topping and sprinkle evenly over the batter.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. (It's always best to check a few minutes before.  Stick a toothpick in the center.  It should come out clean.)   Let rest on cooling rack for five minutes, then remove muffins from pan.  Prepare Orange Glaze and drizzle over hot muffins.  Serve warm!