Banana Granola Yogurt Parfait

This recipe came from one of the ShopRite sales flyers and sounds like a great breakfast option for work. It reminded me of McDonald's yogurt parfait, which is good but a little too sweet. McDonald's uses berries in theirs instead of the banana. Change out the type of fruit you add, mix and match depending on the season, and the type of nuts and dried fruit you use in the granola and you'll have great variety flavors to choose from. If you are packing this to take to work, keep the granola in a separate bag and add it just before eating so that it keeps its crunch. McDonald's also gives you the granola in a separate cellophane bag, although the amount they give you is a bit stingy.

Granola:
3/4 cup old fashioned oats
2 Tbsp. wheat germ
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 Tbsp. sesame seed
1 Tbsp. honey
2 tsp. melted butter
2 Tbsp. raisins

Parfait:
2 medium bananas, sliced 1/2 inch thick [or berries]
2 (6 ounce) cartons vanilla yogurt (or plain yogurt flavored with vanilla)

Preheat oven to 325.

To make granola combine oats and wheat germ in large bowl. Spread on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you want larger clumps of granola, do not overstir. Remove from oven. Pour into bowl.

Stir in almonds, sesame seeds, honey, and melted butter. Spread on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes more or until lightly browned, stirring every 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool to room temperature and stir in raisins, breaking up large granola clusters.

For each parfait spoon 2 Tbsp. granola into a tall glass or dessert dish. Top with alternating layers of yogurt, banana and granola.

Serve immediately.

4 servings

Per serving: 270 calories, 9 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium, 41 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 9 g protein.