Friday, September 18, 2015

Apple Parfaits

 
This is a refreshing way to enjoy fresh apples right now. People always seem to enjoy these little parfaits and they are simple to prepare (as my first graders used to say--it's "easy peasy").

Apple Parfaits
2 cups creamy vanilla or plain yogurt (you can get a  2 lb. container)
2 medium unpeeled apples (or pears) cut into chunks (2 cups)
1/4 cup caramel topping
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
 
1. Reserve 1/4 cup yogurt for the topping.  Divide the remaining yogurt among 4 (8 oz.) glasses or dessert dishes.  Spoon 1/2 cup of the apple chunks over yogurt in each glass.
2. Top each with 1 tablespoon of the remaining yogurt.  Spoon 1 tablespoon caramel topping over yogurt.  Sprinkle pecans over each parfait.  Serve immediately.  (Makes 4 servings.)

 
You can, obviously, adapt this for seasonal use. For example, I made these parfaits with strawberries in the spring and omitted the nuts. Rather than caramel sauce, I sprinkled a little brown sugar on top. You can also add granola to the layers and serve it right away. When I took them to book club or to church members who needed a little visit, I used clear plastic cups from the dollar store. I think they were labeled as wine glasses, but there were several in a package. That way, I didn't have to deal with possible breakage and we were able to recycle the containers after use.
 
Enjoy! Have an "apple-lutely" great weekend!