Orange Banana Bran Muffins

Mornings, coffee and muffins...I like 'em all.

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup oat bran
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 orange, grated rind and juiced
• buttermilk as needed
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (approximately 2)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts OR pecans (optional) 

1. Cream butter, sugar and eggs until well combined
2. Stir together flour, oat bran, baking powder and baking soda. 
3. Grate rind off the orange. (try not to get any of the white pith as it adds a bitter taste)
4. Cut orange in half and squeeze the juice into a measuring cup. 
5. Add buttermilk to the orange juice until liquid equals 3/4 cup.
6. Mash bananas. 
7. Add the dry ingredients, liquid mixture and mashed bananas to the creamed mixture. Stir just until mixed, and no dry ingredients are seen. Add nuts if using.
8. Place batter into well greased or paper lined muffin tins, filling right to the top. (making 9 large muffins)
9. Bake in 375º oven for 25-20 minutes. Allow to rest in pan muffin tins for 5 minutes, then remove to cooling rack.