The Best Cranberry Orange Muffins (or bread)

I like it when blender recipes really NEED the blender (and wouldn't work otherwise). This is a great blender recipe because chopping cranberries is usually such a pain and the whole orange and giant chunk of zest add terrific flavor. We love these muffins!
(source: Vitamix Blender Cookbook)

Yield: 12 muffins (or 1 loaf)

Ingredients

• 1 cup (100 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 orange, peeled, seeded, quartered
• 1 - 2 inch (2.5 cm-5 cm) strip orange peel
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) light olive oil (we use canola)
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar (we do 2/3-3/4 cups)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (240 g) whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup (46 g) chopped walnuts (we often skip the nuts)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly coat an 8 1/2-inch x 4 1/2-inch (22 cm x 11 cm) loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray or shortening (except we always make these as muffins!)
2. Place Vitamix Container on blender base and select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 3. Remove the lid plug and drop cranberries through lid plug opening just until chopped. Stop; scrape sides and remove chopped cranberries.
4. Place orange quarters, peel, olive oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla into the Vitamix Container and secure lid.
5. Select Variable 1. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
6. Blend for 30 seconds, using the tamper as necessary to press the ingredients into the blades.
7. In a large-size mixing bowl, combine the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and whole wheat flour; stir well.
8. Pour orange mixture into bowl containing dry ingredients. Mix by hand JUST until dry ingredients are moistened.
9. Stir chopped nuts into the batter; do not over mix.
10. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (For muffins: bake 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean) 
11. Cool on wire rack 30 minutes, then carefully remove from loaf pan and allow to cool completely before slicing. (except that we always eat these hot)