Bran Muffins

Ingredients :

• 1-2/3 cups wheat bran
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1-3/4 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2-1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1/3 cup light molasses
• 6 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/3 cups raisins
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Cooking Procedures :

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare 2 greased standard 12-muffin pans or line with paper cups.
2. In a large bowl, combine wheat bran and water and let stand for 15 minutes.
3. In another bowl, combine and whisk together whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
4. Add honey, molasses, oil, brown sugar and orange zest into the bran mixture. Whisk in eggs and stir in raisins and walnuts.
5. Add the flour mixture and fold just until the dry ingredients are moistened. The batter will be thick but soupy.
6. Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Place pans in the center of the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in 1 or 2 of the muffins comes out clean.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool for 2 to 3 minutes before removing from the pans. If not serving hot, let cool on a rack. 8. Makes 24 muffins.