Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      medium        orange
     1/2  cup           sugar
   1 3/4  cups          flour
   2      teaspoons     baking powder
     1/2  teaspoon      baking soda
     1/2  teaspoon      salt
     1/2  teaspoon      cinnamon
     1/4  teaspoon      cloves
     1/3  cup           shortening
     1/2  cup           chopped dates
   2                    eggs
   1      cup           pumpkin -- cooked and mashed
     1/3  cup           orange juice
   2      teaspoons     grated orange peel
                        ***TOPPING***
   2      tablespoons   orange juice -- (to 3t)
     1/4  cup           sugar

Preparation:

Heat oven to 375F. Grease 36 mini muffin cups. In large bowl, beat shortening and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, orange juice, grated orange peel and eggs; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in dates. Fill each cup 3/4 full. Bake 14-17 minutes or until very light golden brown and toothpick tests clean. cool 1 minute, remove from pan. Brush tops with orange juice and dip in sugar. To use a standard muffin tin, fill 2/3 full and bake at 400F. 18-22 minutes.

Nutritional Information:

Per muffin: 70 calories, 1 g protein, 12 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g fat (26%), 12 mg cholesterol, 65 mg sodium, 55 mg potassium