Orange-Date Muffins

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons baking soda 
• 2 cups firmly brown sugar light packed
• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 tablespoon butter melted
• 1 cup buttermilk 
• 1 cup dates chopped
• 2 large eggs 
• 3 cups flour all-purpose
• 2 tablespoons orange juice fresh
• 0.3 cup orange rind grated
• 1 cup pecans chopped
• 0.3 cup powdered sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• oven
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Stir together buttermilk and soda until blended.
2. Beat 1 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Stir in buttermilk mixture, eggs, and next 5 ingredients until blended. Spoon batter into greased muffin pans filling two-thirds full.
3. Bake at 350 for 20 to 23 minutes.
4. Remove from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks.
5. Stir together powdered sugar, orange juice, and melted butter until smooth; drizzle glaze evenly over muffins.
6. Note: Batter may be covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.