6 Week Bran Muffins

Ingredients: 15 oz box of Raisin Bran or Bran Flakes
1 2/3 - 3 cups sugar
5 cups of flour
5 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups Crisco or 1 cup vegetable oil ( for Lighter muffins.)
4 eggs
4 cups buttermilk
(I am on a dairyfree diet and use Soybean silk and a couple TBLS of Vinegar with no problem)

Combine the first five ingredients, mixing together until large lumps remain. Add Crisco or oil, eggs and buttermilk. Stir together well but do not over mix.

Place in a sealable plastic container under refrigeration until ready to use (or overnight).

When needed, scoop out the amount required and ladle batter into greased or sprayed muffin tins. Fill any unused muffin wells 1/4 of the way with water. If batter becomes too thick, stir in milk, buttermilk, or melted butter until a good muffin batter consistency is achieved.

Batter will keep for several weeks in refregerator. Muffiins can be varied by mixing in a small amount of one or two of the following ingreients just before baking: honey, brown sugar, molasses, raisins, Craisins, chopped pecans, walnuts, peanuts or macadamia nuts. Don't over do it. Don't use more than 1/2 cup of fruit/nut mix to 2 - 3 cups batter.

Bake at 375 degrees f. for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes four dozen or so muffins.

Quick breads are those that are made from a batter or soft dough. They are made at one time and do not require rising for the different stages of preparation. Biscuits, Fruit Breads, Coffee Cakes are some examples of quick breads. Coffee Cakes by name makes you think it might fall in the category of batter desserts. Normally the coffee cakes are a more savory, less sweet variety. They tend to be a good accompaniment for Coffee or tea.

If a recipe is classified as bread it usually as a levening that requires for than one step, it is mixed, allowed to rise, punched down and worked - maybe multiple time- before it is shaped and baked.

If we get really technical we can discuss the type of wheat or grain used in the various types of bread - not in this lens. We'll just go with enjoying our muffins - a quick bread.