A Cookable Feast

I’m super-psyched about today’s recipe because it contains an ingredient that is a mega luxury in my world. No, not white truffles flown Express from Italy or flecks of pure gold – I’m talking something far more exquisite. I’m talking – Greek yogurt! As you likely gathered from the title, it’s the building block of today’s recipe, Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Blackberries, Honey, and Almonds.

Greek yogurt, you rare-bird-in-my-neck-of-the-woods you, you are GLORIOUS! Greek yogurt, you thick, creamy, luscious treat that I generally ban myself from purchasing! Because, have you guys seen how much a 32-ounce container of organic Greek yogurt costs? Where I live, the standard retail price is nearly seven dollars. That’s a little too rich a rate for me to justify to myself with my current financial priorities and the availability of lesser-priced standard organic yogurt alternatives. Consequently, I (sadly) hadn’t purchased Greek yogurt in years. Then I recently spotted some discounted at under six dollars and thought what the hell, I’m going for it. I’m going for it in the name of A Cookable Feast, a noble enterprise!

So I’m presenting the recipe inspired by this splurge in case you’d like an excuse to purchase organic Greek yogurt, too. If you’d like to substitute standard yogurt, that would also work just dandy. Both are chock-full of gut-healthy probiotics, those little guys that help keep our digestive tracts calm and our immune systems strong.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the other stars of this recipe: the juicy blackberries (loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants), crunchy sliced almonds (protein-packed!), rich honey (an excellent processed-sugar substitute that – especially in its raw form – possesses an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; I love the Madhava brand’s raw honey), and hearty oats (fiber-filled and gluten-free; it’s best to buy a brand that is verified gluten-free if that’s a concern to ensure the oats aren’t in risk of having been cross-contaminated by other gluten-laced grains).

Another perk of this Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Blackberries, Honey, and Almonds? You can make multiples at once and have breakfasts ready in advance! Constructed in Mason jars or other such lidded containers, they should keep well in the fridge for several days. Nothing’s better than going to bed knowing that you’ve got a beacon of deliciousness waiting to help propel you out of bed in the morning when your alarm is wailing away and you just want to pull the covers over your head and ignore it. The prospect of an excellent breakfast makes a big difference in getting me out of bed, at least! Hopefully it will help you, too.

OK, on to the recipe and luxurious deliciousness!

Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Blackberries, Honey, and Almonds

-2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt

-1/2 cup rolled oats

-1/4 cup sliced almonds

-1/2 cup fresh blackberries, plus extra for garnish

-1 tbs. honey

To assemble parfait:

Layer the ingredients in a Mason jar or similar container in the following order:

-1/3 cup yogurt

-1/4 cup oats

-1/4 cup almonds

-1/2 cup blackberries

-1 tbs. honey

-1/4 cup oats

-1/3 cup yogurt

Garnish that baby with a blackberry, and you’re done! You have a delectable treat to enjoy, whether now or later.