Sunshine Muffins.

Or....
Another working title could be:  "The Day My Kitchen Begged for Mercy."
"Sunshine Muffins" just sounds....happier...don't you think?
And they are happy.  Truly.  They make my tummy smile.
And a messy kitchen is much happier than the flu sickness we've been living with this past week...so, we're rolling with it, today.

Ever get on a little kick where you haven't made something for a really long time...and then you remember it... so you make it...and then you remember how much you loved it...so you make it a lot....like a lot a lot...like whenever you feel like a snack or whenever you have company over...or...or...something...like....that?!

hello?
Anyone?

Well, these little muffins are like that for my boys and I.  They are a childhood memory, for me, because Mom used to make these all the time for us kids.  And they are fun for my boys, because they get to make ginormous messes...I mean, "help out" in the creation of these here beauties.

This recipe takes an entire orange - pulp, juice, peel and all - pureed right up in your blender and another half cup of juice besides.  And for some reason, those little factoids bring my boys great amounts of joy.

My kitchen is usually very VERY sticky after the makings of these muffins.
But they are worth it - that's how good they are!

And - other than the mess the kids create - they require relatively little clean-up, and few utensils are used.
Bonus, baby!

So, here's what you do:
Take one, good-sized orange, wash it, cut it up into pieces, and chuck it in your blender along with 1/2 cup orange juice that is not watered down.  Juicing some real oranges, is the best...and the best for you.  Obviously.

We tend to make these muffins when I find a whole whack of half dead oranges or tangerines laying around at the very back of my fridge.  Jesse, in particular, loves to go to town with the juicer.  And by "go to town," I mean... GO...TO...TOWN...

epic.

Blend until smooth.
Then add to your blender concoction:
1/2 - 1 cup sugar....(I think 1/2 cup is totally sufficient.  I have also used honey - and just beef up the flour)
1 large egg
1/2 cup softened butter

A quick and easy way to soften your refrigerated butter is to nuke it in your microwave for a few seconds - flipping it over every few seconds until it starts to get soft.  Do NOT accidentally push the button for five minutes and then walk out of the room to help your toddler on the potty....and then return to a wonder of glory that is popping and gurgling and bubbling All.  Over.  Said.  Microwave.

epic.  again.
Like mother, like son - methinks.

Ahhhh.  Deep, cleansing breaths.  Now, where was I....
Ah yes - blend those things until smooth, as well.

In a separate bowl, mix your dry ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour - (spelt, white, whole wheat - all work well)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder

Pending no other catastrophes, add your blender ingredients to your dry bowl.
Just barely mix until moistened.
Pour into greased muffin pans and cook at 350 degrees until toothpick tests clean.

Voila!
Best served warm.
And even better if you thought ahead to make a double batch.
Fun, orange color for bonus...

Happy Muffin Monday....er, Tuesday...um, Wednesday?....no wait, it's Thursday now.
Oh....it's Friday?
Life...whew...

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating." ~ Luciano Pavarotti, My Own Story