California Orange Honey Muffins

Description: Why just about anything with wheat germ in it is titled "California" I'll never know, but I love the stuff. This recipe is adapted from Gene Opton's book, "Honey: A Connoisseur's Guide".

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour or 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup orange blossom honey
• 1 egg
• 1 orange, zest of
• 1/2 cup orange juice, preferably freshly squeezed

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375*F. Butter a 12-cup muffin tin.
2. Combine the flour, powder, soda, salt and wheat germ in a medium bowl.
3. Cream the butter with a mixer, then add the honey and beat until fluffy.
4. Add the egg, zest and juice and beat again.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the butter-honey mixture and stir until just combined.
6. The batter may be lumpy - don't worry about it, just make sure you don't have any dry spots.
7. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool slightly in the tins for about 5 minutes, then remove and cool completely on a rack or serve warm.