Consolation Bran Muffins

MAKES 24 MUFFINS

Ingredients:
• 2 cups bran cereal (Bran Buds, All Bran, Bob's Best Oat Bran Hot Cereal, Bran Flakes, or Oat Bran)
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

Preparation:
Mix the cereal and buttermilk in a large bowl; let stand for 10 to 15 minutes until buttermilk is absorbed. Mix in the eggs, oil, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Grease and flour a muffin pan, or line it with paper muffin cups. Fill the cups two-thirds full with batter. Bake at 400° for 15 to 20 minutes until the muffins are light brown. Remove the muffins from the pan and set them on a cooling rack.

Variations:
• Add a mashed banana.
• Substitute ½ cup applesauce for vegetable oil to reduce fat content.
• Add 1 cup raisins or any dried fruit, diced.

This Breakfast recipe was published in 'The Book Lover's Cookbook by 'Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet kay Jensen' - Ballantine Books'