Orange Raisin Cupcakes

This recipe was raved about by friends of Betty Nolan when she made it for parties.  She said it was very good and recommended it to be included in the Nolan Family Recipe site.

Ingredients:
1 large orange
1 cup Raisins

1½ cups sugar
½ cup shortening

2 eggs
2 cups Flour (Dip level pour method.  5 oz./cup and 10 oz. total)
½ tsp. Salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sweet milk

Directions:
Extract juice from the orange and add a good ½ cup of sugar. Add a bit of lemon juice to it also.  Set aside.
Put the orange skins and raisins though a food chopper. 
Now add sugar and shortening and cream well.
Add 2 well beaten eggs, then flour, salt, baking powder alternating with the sweet milk.

Place about 1/3 cup of batter in standard cupcake liner to fill about 2/3 full. 
Preheat oven to 350° F.  bake cupcakes for about 18-20 minutes.
As you take them from the oven put a tsp. of the orange/sugar/lemon mixture over the top of hot cakes. 
This recipe makes 24 cupcakes. 

Note:   It can also be used to make a 9x13 inch sheet cake. Set your oven to 350° F. and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.