Orange-Spiced Mini-Muffins

Ingredients:
• 1 medium orange
• 1/2 cup dates, cut up
• 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• for a variation, add 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger with the flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut whole, unpeeled orange into 8 sections and chop in a food processor. Add the chopped oranges to the dates, nuts, melted butter, orange juice, sugar, and egg.

Sift the dry ingredients together and then stir into the wet ingredients until just blended. Pour into paper-cup lined mini-muffin tins, filling them 3/4 full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until puffed and firm in the center. Cool before serving.

Yield: 12 to 16 servings