1 1/2 c. whole-bran cereal or unprocessed bran
1 c. milk
1/2 c. raisins or chopped dates or dried apricots (optional)
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/2 c. pure maple syrup
Butter, butter or maple butter (recipe in Potpourri Section)

Grease 12 muffin cups or insert paper liners. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine cereal, milk and fruit (if using) in a large mixing bowl; let stand 3 minutes until bran softens and absorbs most of the moisture. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl. Add the egg, syrup and oil to the cereal mixture and beat well. Add the flour mixture all at once and stir just until all the ingredients are combined. Divide the batter among the 12 muffin cups and bake in a 400 degree oven 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature with butter or Maple Butter. Makes 12 muffins.