Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

 

The other day, I got a hankering for some chocolate. As I had a few chocolate chips, decided to make these delectable 

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 cups regular flour

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 orange flavored liqueur (such as Grand Marnier)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 t. grated orange rind

1 t. vanilla

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease your muffin tin. I use Pam. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugars, baking powder and soda, salt. Mix well. In another bowl, stir together the wet ingredients, the oil, orange juice, egg, vanilla and liqueur, If you haven't got  liqueur, you can use orange flavoring or go without and add a bit more orange juice. Make a well, in the dry ingredient bowl and add the wet, stirring until just mixed well and then stir your chocolate chips.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Take out and let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan. These are delicious and best the first day. I'd freeze them if kept  longer. They have a nice orange flavor and the chocolate is just right.

Christmas cards and other news

Wow..I didn't realize how much time has flown by this month. I had an appointment for my mammogram and when the receptionist said it was on the 16th, I was thinking it was  two weeks away. Turned out to be only one week, guess I'm a week or two behind times! The last time I had one, it had been such a painful experience that I swore I wouldn't do it again but on the advise of the doctor, went ahead for another bout. This time was much better so all is well. Hopefully the results will be good, I should know soon. My grandmother died from breast cancer so its good that I go in as often as the doctor recommends. I also had blood work done that turned out just fine.
We're both so thankful that we  have medical insurance!

 I've been working on Christmas cards! Stitching the 12 days of Christmas..This is one is the Two Turtle Doves..its not finished yet, I'm waiting to get some red beads for the holly berries but think its turned out nicely.

Here is the third...3 French Hens

And of course, Partridge in a Pear Tree

There are the complete series available. I'd like to get the next pattern  in the series, 4 Calling Birds next...you can find all the patterns at Pinbroidery.  They're sure fun to stitch!

Our oldest son who just turned 26, got a new job which he seems to love. He works for a company that recycles cooking oil from fast food businesses. There is lots of driving though but he loves it. The company is based in Arizona but has a outlet in San Bernardino. He drives up there and then uses their truck for the job. He works nights and his job starts at 7 in the evening. He makes more than he did at the fast food restaurant by far. Lots of  hours. Last night he had to drive all the way to Yuma, Az  which is a 3 hour job one way. He said he had 30 stops to make along the way, stopping at fast food restaurants to pick up their cooking oil. Thankfully he only works 4 days a week so has time to rest up. Early in the week, he went to Disneyland to pick up their oil...kind of an interesting job if you like to drive.

Garden News and Changes

Our raised beds are starting to produce..we harvested all the peas and they were really good this year. We both agreed to plant more this fall when the weather gets cooler. Very yummy..I never liked peas until one spring my family visited my grandparents. Grandpa took me into the back garden. I helped him harvest and shell peas. Ate all that I shelled as I remember which didn't please Grandpa but it did please me. I never knew peas could be that delicious. Fresh, home grown vegetables always taste wonderful.

The strawberry beds are producing also and we've gotten several pints already. So good on cereal in the mornings and also in fruit salads. No large tomatoes yet, but the cherry tomatoes are producing, both yellow and red. I like to eat them like candy.

Our weather has been getting warmer and afternoons get very warm. So I've been stitching Christmas cards. I tried doing some more complicated designs but had a hard time with them so went back to simpler patterns.
  I no longer have the Inspiration Memories shop on Etsy. I hadn't made any sales 6 months and decided to close it. I still have the Home Sweet Stitchery shop but no longer have the additional blog as it got to be too much for me to handle right now. Changes in the works which is ok. Less is more and much better.
I'll share some photos of the cards later in the month and may have a giveaway of a card in July. Christmas in July?