A Groovy Kind of Muffin (Eggless Orange Muffins)

Only because as I was making these I was singing to the dog (it sounds less crazy than singing to myself, right?) -

When you're feeling blue,
All you have to do
Is bake a muffin or two
Then you're not so blue...

Okay. Maybe nothing about that is "less crazy". I definitely bake when I'm needing comfort. And when Genesis is running on endless loop in my head I need comfort, bad.

Regardless, these are some groovy muffins.
Eggless Orange Cranberry Muffins

1 tsp chia seeds + 1/4 cup warm water
1 orange
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup softened butter

1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)

Whisk together chia seeds and warm water in a small bowl and set aside, whisking occasionally to prevent clumping. (This makes chia gel. If you eat eggs, you can substitute one egg.) Preheat the oven to 400F.

Scrub the peel of the orange to remove any nasty fungicides or pesticides, or use an organic orange - yeah, still scrub that. Chop the orange into large pieces (including peel) and toss it in a blender with the orange juice. Puree. Add the dates, chia gel, and butter and blend. Pour that mixture into a large bowl.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and sugar in a separate bowl. Pour over orange mixture and stir just to combine (over-stirring muffins makes them tough. Don't do it). Fold in the cranberries and spoon into greased muffin tins (or use silicone cups like I do). The batter will be fairly dry; don't worry.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out crumby instead of goopy. (If you're using an egg, check at 18 minutes.)

Makes a dozen delicious muffins, pretty much guaranteed to make your morning happier.

This recipe is adapted from the Company's Coming Muffins and More cookbook. My copy is well-used and most of the recipes have notes and additions on them. I recommend this book if you are a muffin lover!
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*** Just a little note to the Welcome Wagon lady who called our home and left the message that she was calling about our "new baby" and wanted to stop by for a visit. I don't know where you got our number (when we signed up for our untaken birthing classes? When we signed up for a hospital tour that we didn't go to? From the midwife we weren't able to use? From our family doctor who botched the aftercare for the miscarriage I had? From the OB/gyn and ER doctors who sorted out the ectopic pregnancy I had?) - but please don't call.

And when we don't return your call, DON'T call my husband on our cell phone and when he tells you we had a miscarriage, hang up on him without saying a word! That's ... just ... rude!