Pour water over all-gran.
Cream sugar and shortening.
Add eggs, buttermilk and soaked all-bran.
Sift dry ingredients.
Add all dry ingredients at once - mix then immediately add bran buds.
Add nuts, raisins or dates as desired.
Bake only as much as needed (batter is thick).
Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes
Keeps well for some time in refrigerator.