Swamp Green Muffins

1 navel orange
3/4 c sugar
2 T water
2 c flour
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 egg (beaten)
3/4 c milk
1 tbsp oil

quarter unpeeled orange, put in blender or food processor to finely chop.
combine 1/4 c sugar and water, boil over med. heat, stir until dissolved.
add orange and cook until thick, ~15 min. cool.

sift together remaining sugar, flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
mix egg, milk, oil, and orange mixture. add to dry ingredients,
stir till just blended, do not overmix.

pour into greased 9x5 loaf pan or 6 cup mold, bake at 325 deg. for ~1 hr.
cool on rack. wrap well, refrig. overnight.

so i blended the orange till mush, cooked it as directed, added 1 1/2 c
chopped cranberries. followed the rest of the recipe (omitted oil and salt),
and didn't sift. (okay ed, okay) used a muffin tin instead of a loaf pan.

now, they taste lovely. even the bitterness of the orange skin is eased
somewhat.

but they're GREEN. this awful, sort of SWAMP THING green!
is it the cranberries? is it the cranberry/orange mix?
they look like spinach muffins, if such a thing exists.