Bran Flax Muffins (fiber and nutrient rich)

1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup ground flax seed
1 cup bran
3/4 cup to 1 cup brown rice syrup (or honey)
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup raisins
1 1/4 cups of mashed fruit (whatever you have--bananas, applesauce, berries..etc)
1 cup buttermilk (milk soured with 1 tsp vinegar)

Mix dry ingredients together. Add wet. Bake about 18-20 minutes at 375 degrees.  Makes 18 muffins-- Make sure to grease well.

This recipe was inspired by my mother-in-law's orange muffins... which are still yummy, but her recipe calls for use of a food processor and mine is broken.  Anyway, I also cut out the eggs and oil since I replaced the brown sugar with brown rice syrup (liquidy) and the bananas and flax work as binders (replacing the eggs).  Her recipe has a nice orange flavor, but the raisins seem to be a little too much--some can taste a little charred/bitter, so that is why I cut back on the raisins in my recipe.  The raisins add a nice flavor so don't get rid of them completely. Her recipe is:

Orange Bran Flax Muffins
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup ground flax seed
1 cup bran
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups raisins
2 oranges-washed & cut into small pieces to grind in the food processor
1 cup buttermilk ( milk soured with 1 tsp vinegar)
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs

Mix dry ingredients together. Add wet ones.  Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.  Makes 18 to 24 muffins.  Make sure to grease well.