Bran Muffins- Love 'em or leave 'em

Raisin bran muffins are kind of like fruitcake...you either love them or loathe them.
  
Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of shortening ( margarine, Crisco or butter)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 eggs 
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 and 1/2 cups natural wheat bran
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

In a medium sized bowl, cream the shortening and sugar together then add the eggs and  molasses and beat well. Stir in the milk and bran. Mix together the remaining dry ingredients, then stir them in to the liquid ingredients. Add the raisins at this point if you like raisins.

Place the batter in a greased muffin tin and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Makes a dozen large muffins.

Editorial note: You can make bran muffins out of boxed bran cereals but this recipe uses real wheat bran, which is generally available in the cereal aisle of grocery stores.