Bran Muffins

4 cups whole bran cereal
1 cup boiling water
½ cup shortening
1 ½ cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour*
2 ½ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. salt
Mix cereal and boiling water together in a metal bowl, and allow to cool.
Cream shortening, sugar, and eggs in a large bowl. Add buttermilk and cooled cereal mixture. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until flour is moistened. Batter should be lumpy.
Spoon batter into greased muffin tins. Bake at 375° for approximately 15 minutes. * 1 cup of all-purpose flour can be substituted for 1 ¼ cup whole wheat flour.