PAPA PARFAIT

Becoming a parent is one of the most joyous experiences you can have in your life! Raising your own cubs is the ultimate adventure, full of memorable moments to make your heart soar. But, of course, it is not without its challenges as well. Just ask any daddy trying to figure out how to change a diaper!

One of the biggest challenges, I believe, is what to feed your kid. Lucky you if they eat just about anything you put in front of them – yes these mythical creatures do exist – but for the most part, if it ain’t crunchy, candy, chicken nuggets, or mac and cheese – they ain’t digging in.

There are ways to address this, of course. Make food designed for them but make it sneakily good for them too.

Like this stuff I call Papa Parfait. It’s dead simple – ANYONE can do it – and it’s delicious and yes, good for you. Basically it’s grains you soak overnight in milk. You can use oatmeal (steel cut for the more adventurous ones) or unsweetened muesli. I like to mix in a little apple, cinnamon, and chewy California raisins for to add sweetness and texture too. Then I layer it between spoonfuls of yogurt, and top it with candied pili. It’s a good source of fiber and great for breakfast or any time of the day really! Hope you like it!

Recipe:

1 cup oats (steel cut) or unsweetened muesli

2 cup whole milk

½ cup chopped raisins

¼ cup chopped apples

¼ tsp cinnamon powder

1 tbsp honey

Plain yogurt (I like Greek yogurt with a little honey because it’s thick and rich)

Candied pili

Whole raisin for garnish

Mix oats, chopped raisins, apples and cinnamon. Add milk and honey. Soak in a container overnight in the refrigerator.

Give it a good mix with a spoon before serving. In a glass add some of the soaked oat mixture, then some of the yogurt, then another layer of the oats, and finally another layer of yogurt top with the whole raisin and candied pili.

Put all the ingredients together - sweetened by California Raisins - add fresh milk, and soak overnight