On the Go Bran Muffins

These are supposed to last 6 weeks in the fridge, but I make them all - split the mix and make different sorts, then freeze them so my husband has something nice for morning tea! I usually do choc chip (add some cocoa to the batter too), date, apricot jam-filled (with a bit of ground almonds in the batter) and plum jam-filled (with ground hazlenuts and mixed spice in the batter). Please note these are Aussie cup measurements (250ml). I've never been able to 'cream' the oil and sugar but it doesn't seem to matter.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 35

Ingredients

• 1  cup  unprocessed  natural bran
• 1  cup boiling water
• 1⁄2 cup canola oil
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 2  eggs
• 600  ml buttermilk
• 2 1⁄2 cups plain flour (wholemeal if you like)
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
• 2  cups  all-bran cereal or 2  cups  similar  all-bran cereal

Directions

1. Pour boiling water over bran and allow to cool.
2. Cream oil and sugar then add eggs, beating in each one well.
3. Gradually add buttermilk.
4. Add the bran mixture, then stir in the flour and bicarb soda.
5. The muffin mix can be stored in the fridge for up to six weeks - the mixture will gradually start smelling sour but this is just the buttermilk and bicarb doing its thing.
6. Each time you want a batch of muffins, scoop out required quantity, add chopped fresh or dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and spices to taste, spoon into greased or papered muffin tins and cook at about 200C for 15 to 20 minutes.