Yummy Low Fat and Low Sugar Granola!!!

I found this recipe in Bob Greene's Book The Best Life Diet. It was fast to make and my whole family loved it! I made it just like it suggested. But now that I know how easy and yummy it is I will tweak it in the future. The possibilities of spices, fruits, and nuts you could add would be limitless! I ate mine with some plain yogurt and fresh berries for breakfast... Super Yum! Try it out, it took me about 30 minutes to make from start to finish.


Ingredients

4 cup Rolled Oats
1/4 cup Unprocessed Oat Bran
2 tbsp Canola Oil
1/3 cup Pure Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Pure Almond Extract
1 tsp Ginger, Ground
1/2 cup Sliced Almonds
1/2 cup Pears, Dried-unsweetened
1/4 cup Dried Cranberries- sweetened with apple juice
1/4 cup Dates, Chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Combine the oats and bran on a large baking sheet

In a small pan over medium heat, stir in the canola oil, maple syrup, ground ginger and vanilla and almond extracts.. When the mixture bubbles, pour it over the oat mixture and mix well. Bake for 10 minutes.

Add the almonds and stir the mix thoroughly. Continue to bake until the oats and almonds are lightly toasted, about 10 minutes more, stirring again halfway through.

Stir in the pears, cranberries, dates, and ginger. Bake until the oats are crisp, about 5 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and stir the mix. Let the granola cool for 5 minutes, then stir again.

When completely cool, store the granola in an air-tight container for up to 4 weeks.