Yogurt, Fruit and Granola Parfaits

Please excuse the background messes!  We'd rather blog than finish the laundry and dishes.  Each person can make their own.  You could have a parfait bar or make these up ahead of time. 

Ingredients:

Plain Yogurt
Honey
Fruit - strawberries, blueberries, banana, etc
Granola

Layer, fruit, yogurt, honey, and granola.  Layer the ingredients any way you like!

Here's what you need:

Layer the ingredients

We started with fruit

Then some yogurt

a drizzle of honey

Granola

Time to eat!

Easy Granola

This granola recipe is easy, when you don't have a ton of ingredients on hand.  It's great with yogurt or in a parfait, great with milk or as an ice cream topping.  So much better and cheaper than store bought!

Ingredients:

• 5 cups old fashioned oats (don't use quick oats)
• 1 cup raw almonds (chopped)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Optional ingredients - raisins, dried apricot bits, chopped walnuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, raw pumpkin seeds (really anything you like!) 1-2 cups of one or more.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.  Lightly grease cookie sheet with sides (I lined cookie sheet with foil for easy cleanup)

In a large bowl, toss together the oats, brown sugar, almonds, (walnuts, coconut, etc).  In a separate bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, oil, water and salt.  Pour the liquid over the oat and nut mixture, and stir until evenly coated.  Spread out on the prepared cookie sheet.

Bake 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally until evenly toasted.  I would stir every 20 minutes or so.  Cool, and store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

Note:  If adding raisins or other dried fruit, add after it's cooked and cooled already. 

Here's what you need:

In a large bowl, add the oats

Almonds

Brown Sugar

Mix well

In a separate bowl, add syrup

oil

salt and water

Whisk until well blended

Pour liquids over the oat mixture

Mix well

Spread evenly on a cookie sheet

I had enough for 2 batches so two cookie sheets, depends on the size of cookie sheet

Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, stir every 20 minutes or so.  It's done when it's golden brown.  Store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

Blueberry Strawberrilicious Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen blueberries
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 cups apple juice
• 3/4 cup plain non fat yogurt

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend!  Serves 4.

Here's What You Need:

Put all the ingredients in a blender

apple juice

Yogurt

Strawberries

blueberries

Blend

Serve!

Yummy!

Bugs on a Banana

This is an awesome afternoon snack or breakfast.  Great before a workout too.  Very nutritious and filling.

Ingredients:

• Banana, sliced lengthwise
• Peanut butter (we prefer smooth)
• Raisins, Chocolate Chips, Craisins

Slice banana lengthwise, a butter knife will work for the kids.  Smear each side of the banana with peanut butter, sprinkle with raisins, chocolate chips, etc.

Here's what you need:

Cut banana lengthwise

Smear with peanut butter

Sprinkle with raisins or chocolate chips

EAT

Fruity Patooti Smoothie

This is a healthy, yummy, smoothie.  It is great for breakfast or an after school snack.  Make in the summer and freeze in popsicle molds!

What You Need:

• 2 cups orange juice (more or less to get the consistency right)
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• 1 frozen banana
• 3/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt

Measure out the ingredients, add to the blender and blend in the blender, it's that easy!  Be sure to have an adult supervising the blender part. 

Note:  I freeze bananas when they are starting to get too ripe, they are great for smoothies and banana bread/muffins!  I put them in a ziplock, peeled and take them out as needed.

Enjoy!