Orange Pumpkin Loaf/Muffins

Y'know those days when you feel like your life is going nowhere and you have no idea what to do to make it go anywhere? (Yes, it even happens to people in University who seem like they're on a clear track to somewhere.) I was feeling that sort of way the other day and for me personally, I always feel like I'm accomplishing something when I bake or cook. So I made some very Fall type loaves and muffins in the middle of January.

(This makes a lot as you can see; I wanted to use up an entire 750 mL can of pumpkin, so I tripled the recipe. I'm assuming you don't want to make this much, so here's the original recipe that produces 1 loaf or 1 tray (ish) of muffins)

Ingredients:

Butter                                 1/3 cup

Sugar                                  1 1/3 cups

Eggs                                    2

Canned Pumpkin                1 cup (250 mL)

Water                                  1 cup  (I didn't put this in cause I don't see the point)     

Orange (ground)                 1

Flour                                   2 cups

Baking Soda                       1 tsp

Baking Powder                   1/2 tsp

Salt                                      3/4 tsp

Cinnamon                           1/2 tsp

Cloves                                 1/2 tsp (I actually used Nutmeg instead)

Chopped nuts                      1/2 cups

Raisins or Chopped Dates   1/2 cups (optional, I didn't add any)

Cream butter and sugar together well. Add eggs. Bat lightly. Add pumpkin and water. Stir. Cut and remove seeds from orange. Put in blender or grinder and grind complete orange including peel. Stir into batter. Combine next eight ingredients in bowl mixing well. Stir into batter. Spoon into greased loaf pan (9x5x3 inch) or muffin tin. Bake in oven at 350°F for 1 hour for loaf or 20-25 mins for muffins. Test with toothpick. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool and Wrap.

Recipe from one of my mom's cookbooks.