This recipe involves no cooking but I could eat this for three meals a day, as could K. It could be categorized as a fruit crisp. It's really not quite a 'recipe' really, so much as an assembly, an edible assemblage. But when you tart it up with designer pottery, kids' art and local peaches, you could draw a double take even from the great Ina Garten.
All you need is:
* Favorite fruits from the farmers market. So, they are local(there's the beginning of the self-righteousness.) and actually divine tasting. Probably because they are local. In today's Summer Surprise I have yellow peaches and raspberries. Note the blond raspberries...they are better than candy. I could have added strawberries but, I thought that might be gilding the lily.
*Favorite local granola. Of course, if you make your own granola. Well, then...you probably don't need suggestions in the kitchen and more power to you. I confess I do not make my own granola; I go to the store. I am newly obsessed with 18 Rabbits granola. They had me when they combined hazel nuts and cocoa nibs but there is so much more to enjoy in their delicious offerings.
*Favorite local organic plain yogurt. Strauss' is my all time favorite. When I'm on the East Coast, I love "Liberté" yogurt; same concept. And Voilà! Find a spot in the sun; sit down with your kid/kids and enjoy.
*Breakfast variations: Slap some of the deliciousness next to or on top of a pancake...have a good time! For kids, if you have the bandwidth, you could do Star Wars pancakes.(We got the star wars pancake molds for Christmas. After a few practice runs, they are worth the effort.)
If you don't have the bandwidth( most days, I have little to none) I put this combo on a Trader Joe's gluten free pancake(K's favorite kind of store bought) or a multi grain eggo waffle.
*Dessert variations: With the basic assembly, I have been known to break up some dark chocolate bars and sprinkle on top. You can also stick a few of the petit beurre cookies into the bowl. Delicious.
*Other notes: You will see in my photo that I have a plate of peaches. They are set out on our dining table. I have noticed that peaches set out to ripen in a city apartment make your home smell amazing. Like you have a peach tree on the fourth floor! I recommend it!
And, now, a shameless declaration of love:
I am a huge, huge, huge fan of Strauss' yogurt. It's organic; it's local and I'm pretty sure(I am touching wood while I type) that it has kept K and I very healthy for his whole life. K and I have at least one serving of Strauss yogurt a day. In the winter K's favorite dessert and snack is the Strauss whole milk plain yogurt with frozen organic blueberries.
And-still touching wood-K has only had a very upset stomach and actually thrown up, three times. K is now five(I'm not counting spitting up as an infant.)(One of the times he threw up he was on a car trip with his father. He had a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast and then started playing video games. But I'm not judging. OK. OK. I am. This is after all the self-righteous section of the post...)
I think taking in some of the local cultures and bacteria through this amazing food has saved us from many a stomach bugs. And there have been plenty! Both of us have actually stopped enjoying the other yogurts that are pumped full of sugar. Both of us, if our tummy isn't feeling great will have a bowl of Strauss' and maybe some crunchy lettuce. I really think Strauss is my super food.
As I write I think that I have stumbled onto an important trick! (Unless of course your child or you are lactose intolerant. If so, I'll try to do some research for you. ) I think the important trick is eat something local and or organic every day. Find ways to have that local and/or organic food that tastes good. If it's a chore or yucky, it will be the first thing you forget when you are too tired to think. Find ways that both you and your kids will enjoy that food.
I worry all the time that K's not going to be an adventurous eater. And yet, inadvertently, I have built in a dietary home base that when he does try the new foods, he can always return to it.
Thank you Strauss, Liberté and all you lovely, hard working local farmers!
