With the end of the semester approaching, it’s time for the last Blackboard Special instalment of the year.
It’s funny how quickly a year passes—in fact, I can still clearly remember typing out my first Blackboard Special last September. While I was writing about a dish that I loved (Chinese fried rice), I was also quite hesitant. Who was I to write about cooking and preparing food, when my idea of cooking was tossing a basic salad together?
While I still haven’t found the answer to that particular question, the recipes of this year certainly have given me a greater appreciation for the finer points of the “foodie” culture. I have yet to become the next Martha Stewart—which remains quite unlikely—but at least I now understand the magic behind creating fancy desserts such as an Australian pavlova.
My final recipe for this year is a parfait—or, as I call it, a DIY parfait. No, this recipe is not going to help you recreate the classic French-style dessert. Instead, it’s a healthier version layered with strawberries and a personal favourite of mine, mangoes, that makes for an excellent breakfast when I’m in a rush.
The Blackboard Special will be back again next year with even more mouth-watering recipes, but until then, bon appétit, folks.
DIY Parfait
Serves 1–2
Ingredients
- ½ cup of Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp of sugar
- 1 tbsp of honey
- 1 tbsp of Rooh Afza syrup (concentrated squash)
- 1 banana, peeled and sliced
- 1 mango, peeled and chopped
- Mixture of berries, chopped (e.g. strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
- Biscuits, crushed (optional)
Method
- Spoon three tbsp of yogurt into a bowl (or, if you’re feeling fancy and want to achieve a dessert-like look, a tall glass).
- Add the chopped mangoes, bananas, and strawberries.
- Mix the yogurt with the fruits using a spoon until the yogurt covers all the fruits.
- Add the honey, sugar, Rooh Afza syrup, and remaining yogurt to the mixture.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes or place in the freezer for up to 10 minutes to cool.
- Sprinkle crushed biscuits over top of the mixture.
- Serve immediately.
