Strawberry, Orange, Banana Muffins

I went to the store with the intention of buying fresh blueberries to make my husband's favorite blueberry muffins, but both the stores I checked were out of them! So I improvised by making these delicious little treats instead.  I got the recipe off For the Love of Cooking's blog.

Banana, Strawberry, and Orange Muffins:

• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tbsp fresh orange juice (1 used one orange)
• 1 1/2 cups of strawberries, sliced (add a bit of sugar if they are tart)
• 1 tbsp grated orange zest, divided
• 3 tbsp sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 tablespoon of orange zest together in a small bowl.

Using an electric mixer, beat together the bananas, eggs, brown sugar, melted butter, fresh orange juice, and vanilla until well blended.

Stir in the dry ingredients until just combined then carefully add 1 cup of sliced strawberries and gently mix together.

Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tray. Sprinkle the remaining strawberries evenly over the tops of each muffin, making sure to push them down a bit.

Combine the sugar and remaining tablespoon of orange zest together and sprinkle evenly on top of each muffin.
Place into the oven and bake for 25-27 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for a few minutes.

And while I was making these wonderful muffins, Bear was destroying all my decorative Easter eggs...