Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

My mama used to tell me that her eyes used to be blue, but she ate so much chocolate that it turned them brown. I believed her. You may say you like chocolate, but I would put money on the fact that my mom liked it more. At any given time, there were at least 5 chocolate bars stashed somewhere in her bedroom, just in case of a must-eat-chocolate-now emergency. It would absolutely amaze me that she could have chocolate just sitting there, waiting to be eaten. I liked my chocolate right here and now, thank you very much. But she taught me to savor things. The anticipation of something is almost as good as the thing itself.

I can't say that I have learned the truthfulness of this completely yet- I am pretty darned impatient. Good things come to those who wait? Who cares. BUT, I have learned to save my chocolate. After all, what if we get snowed in for a week and I can't get to the store? I have a  basket on the topmost shelf of my cupboard with basically the entire edible contents of my Christmas stocking in it. Don't get me wrong, I have eaten lots of it already, but my hubby  Santa was good to me. And in that basket is a Terry's chocolate orange. Oh how I love chocolate and orange together.

This morning I was looking for some breaky and I accidentally found my way into the basket. As I was brainlessly munching away, I thought that I should probably come up with a way to eat this for breakfast without feeling so guilty about it.

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

• 1 orange quartered and seeds removed (with peel)
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup sall-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips

       Directions

• Preheat oven to 400F; spray a muffin tin (12) with non-stick cooking spray like Pam and set aside.
• Put orange quarters in food processor (or blender) along with orange juice and process or blend until pureed.
• Add egg, butter, and vanilla to food processor and combine; pour into large bowl.
• Combine dry ingredients together in a separate bowl, then add all at once to orange mixture.
• Add chocolate chips
• Stir to combine.
• Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes; remove from oven and let stand in tin for 5 minutes before removing muffins.

I like them fresh out of the oven with a bit of butter and a cup of tea. Now that's a breakfast!

-Jessica

Recipe adapted from this recipe.