Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, mix bran, flour, salt, soda, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, brown sugar (with lumps broken up), AMPORT dates and chopped nuts. Stir well.
Grease a large 12 cup muffin pan or small muffin pan and mini-loaf pan and put in preheated oven to warm.
Pour the buttermilk into dry ingredients and mix with fork just until all dry ingredients are moistened. Take pan(s) from oven and fill each cup 2/3 to 3/4 full (do not smooth tops of muffins); mini-pan 1/2 full. Return to oven and bake 20 to 30 minutes or until muffins begin to brown. Bake mini-pan a little longer. Turn out of pan(s) and serve immediately. Chewy muffins are best hot, but also are good later in the day for snacks.
