Special Post: Gramps' Bran Muffins (Jessica)

Dear Readers,

This week, I'm not posting a recipe based on the alphabet. The recipe I made and am now sharing with you is very special to me and it is important enough that I took a break from the alphabet to bring it to you. After all, if I make the rules, I guess I can break them too!

One month ago tomorrow, my grandfather died. He was pretty awesome. He passed away very suddenly and so my family dropped everything and flew out to be all together. From this experience, I discovered that when people are struggling, food is always the default option. Our family received an amazing amount of love in the form of food. I don't want to dwell on the sad parts of this experience because I think it's more important to celebrate the happy parts, so I decided to make this recipe and share it with you in Gramps' honor.

So really, Gramps wasn't much of a baker. Actually, he rarely baked anything. The only recipe I ever heard him talk about baking was bran muffins. Best way to start a morning is with a good bran muffin, and this recipe was the best one. I got the recipe 3 or 4 years ago and have made it a number of times. If I had extra muffins, I'd bring them down to my grandparents' house, or, sometimes, he would have made extras and would send me home with them (yes!). This recipe will live on. I hope you get the chance to try it out yourself!

Gramps' Bran Muffins
makes 24 full-sized muffins


Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup boiling water
3/4 cup white sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups All Bran cereal
1 pint (2 cups) buttermilk
1 cup raisins (optional) or maybe dried cranberries

Directions: 
1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the boiling water and stir. Add the sugar. Mix and then set aside off of heat.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and All Bran.

3. Once combined, add the buttermilk, the butter/sugar liquid mixture that was set aside, and raisins (if using them).
4. Grease muffin tins (or spray with PAM) and spoon batter into tins.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Muffins are done when slightly brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool on cooling racks. Muffins freeze well.

Review: 
I know bran muffins aren't glamorous, but honestly, they're delicious. Plus, they feel wholesome to eat! This particular recipe is a really good one. You get the healthy bran flavor and texture, but they aren't dry at all. For a bit of sweetness, add the raisins! And if you do try this recipe, make it with love.

-Jessica