Springtime Fruit 'n Granola Yogurt Parfaits...
It's official. Spring has sprung in Texas, and it's one of my most favorite times of year...the chilly winter is over, but the annual summer blast furnace is still a couple of months away! Temperatures have been near 80 degrees the past few afternoons, the bluebonnets are just starting to bloom, and the birds are chirping. Springtime in Texas is truly lovely...last spring, we just couldn't resist pulling over during a weekend trek to Austin to pose among the fields of bluebonnets.
As part of my effort to live a healthier lifestyle, I try to eat yogurt several times a week. One of my favorite yogurt finds lately is Yoplait's new Greek yogurt, which contains twice the protein of regular yogurt. It tastes great all on its own...but it also works great as a key component of some delicious fruit, yogurt, and granola parfaits that I whipped up this week!
I was flipping through Bubby's Brunch Cookbook the other night and found a fantastic recipe for a fruit parfait bursting with juicy fruit, homemade granola, and yogurt. I knew that I wouldn't have the time or energy to make Bubby's famous homemade granola after work, but I decided that I could doctor up some store-bought granola and come up with a workable substitute. I bought fruit that was on sale this week: strawberries, blackberries, and fresh pineapple. For the yogurt, I decided to use Yoplait's honey-vanilla Greek yogurt.
Then? I came home and put this delicious parfait together in about 15 minutes. It's literally spring in a parfait glass...and it's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face from the first bite! If you're in a part of the country where spring is still around the corner, I guarantee that eating this will get you in the mood for warmer temperatures! This parfait would make a fantastic weekend breakfast, a healthy dessert, or a great snack after work or school. The amounts below are enough to make 3-4 parfaits, depending on the size of your glass.
Springtime Fruit 'n Granola Yogurt Parfaits
adapted from Bubby's Brunch Cookbook
Step 1: To make the granola mixture, combine 1 cup granola of your choice, 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1/3 cup sunflower seed kernels, and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Stir well to combine. I used a vanilla-nut granola from the bulk section of the grocery store, so choose what sounds good to you!
Step 2: Make the yogurt mixture by combining two 6-ounce containers of Yoplait honey-vanilla Greek yogurt, 1/3 cup light brown sugar, 2 tbs. honey, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Stir well to combine, making sure the brown sugar is completely dissolved.
Step 3: Combine the following ingredients in a large mixing bowl: 1 cup blackberries, 1 cup sliced strawberries, and 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple. I tried to make sure the pieces were fairly uniform in size...roughly bite-sized pieces. Add 2 tbs. sugar (optional - check the sweetness of your fruit and add if needed) and 2 tbs. port wine. Stir well to combine.
Step 4: To assemble the parfaits, place approximately 1/3 cup of the fruit in the bottom of a parfait glass. Top with approximately 1/3 cup of the yogurt and then 1/3 cup of the granola. Repeat layers, ending with granola on top.
That's it...so simple! I LOVE the flavors in this parfait...the juicy fruit, the sweet-tangy yogurt, and the crunchy granola mixed with cinnamon and raisins. There are lots of different flavors and textures going on here...but they really combine very well! This parfait is like a symphony in your mouth...I hope you'll try it really soon!!
Disclosure: By posting information about National Nutrition Month and Yoplait Yogurt, I have received a chance to win a prize provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.
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