Ingredients:
5 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups boiling water
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 quart buttermilk
5 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups 40% natural bran ( or equivalent bran-flake cereal)
4 cups all-bran cereal
2 cups chopped walnuts
2 cups chopped dates
Directions:
Add soda to water; let cool.
Cream shortening and sugar in large mixing bowl.
Add eggs, blend well.
Stir in buttermilk, flour and salt.
Add soda-water.
Combine remaining ingredients in large (at least ten quarts) bowl.
Stir liquid into dry ingredients til blended.
Before first use, let batter sit a few hours to overnight in fridge to allow flavors to blend and fiber to soften.
Fill muffin pans 2/3 full.
Bake 20-25 minutes in 400 oven.
Store remaining batter in refrigerator in a covered container.
Keeps up to 6 weeks.
Servings: 66
Time preparation: 30 min.
Time total: 30 min.