Pour boiling water over 2 cups bran, raisins, and the butter in a medium bowl. Let stand till butter melts. Mix remainder of bran with sugar, beaten egg, and buttermilk in bowl. Sift flour, mix with soda and salt. Combine everything. Stir and Stir - by hand. Batter keeps six weeks in refrigerator. Muffins also freeze well.
2
Bake at 350 until a toothpick pulls out clean, check after 10-12 mintues and go from there.