Homemade Low-Fat Granola

For the Granola:

• 4½ cups old fashioned oatmeal, uncooked
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt (optional)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup apple juice
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ cup raisins

Serve With:

• 1 cup fat-free milk, per serving
• Fresh berries (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir together oatmeal, almonds, cinnamon and salt, if desired, in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk maple syrup, apple juice and vegetable oil; pour over oatmeal mixture and stir to coat thoroughly. Spread mixture in an even layer onto a 15x12-inch baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring twice during baking time. Cool mixture in the pan before adding raisins. Store granola in an airtight container. To serve: Pour 1 cup of milk over a heaping 1/2 cup of granola. Top with fresh berries, if desired. Serving suggestion: Instead of milk, top 1 cup of fat-free yogurt with the granola.   Source: National Dairy Council