Treat Me To A Fool

Illustration from Cooking Light

The Fool: A Snack

The Fool is a traditional English dessert, made of a layer of fruit topped with a layer of stiff sweet whipped cream. 

The dessert looks like a parfait, a treat for the eyes as well as the palate. 

The Fool is versatile: it can be a dessert or a late afternoon snack. 

Snacks are important for those on dysphagia diets. They provide needed calories. Some people experience a late afternoon dip in energy. 

The Cooking for Dysphagia version is made with Greek yogurt and berry sauce. 

(See below for the recipe for fruit sauce. Use any combination of berries. Or any fruit, such as mangoes or peaches. If using blackberries, cut them into quarters. Run the sauce through a sieve to remove any seeds.).l

The infusion of protein is a boost for the metabolism. Sweeten the yogurt to taste by stirring in a little honey, ½ teaspoon. 

If you are up for a dance in the kitchen, try the Elvis Presley classic, “Treat Me Like a Fool.â€

Servings: 2

Equipment:

2 4-oz glass food storage containers with lids.

Ingredients 

For the Fool

1 cup plain Greek yogurt 

For the Sauce

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup frozen blackberries

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons stevia or honey 

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon cornstarch whisked into a slurry with 2 tablespoons water

Directions

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; gently simmer for 10 minutes. Turn down heat to low.
2. Combine cornstarch andl water and whisk until smooth. Drizzle the slurry into the fruit sauce. Allow it to come to a simmer. Stir for three minutes or until sauce thickens. 
3. Remove from heat. Allow to cool till just warm. Make sure that the berry sauce has cooled about halfway, to almost room temperature before adding to the mini food processor and pulsing. Hot liquids will expand when blended and may go all over the kitchen.
4. Add to the bowl of a mini food processor and pulse 3 times then puree until smooth. 
5. When using a berry that has seeds, run the fruit sauce through a mesh sieve, using a silicone spatula to remove any seeds. Then add one pump of gel thickener and pulse a few times to combine. (Follow the directions of the manufacturer for amounts in excess of one cup.)

To create the dessert: 

Spoon 1/4 cup yogurt into each of 2 small glass storage bowls. 

Top each serving with 1/4 cup sauce.

Add another quarter cup of yogurt. 

Add another quarter cup of sauce. 

You have created a parfait! Beautiful!

Note: Fresh fruit in season, may be used. If berries have seeds, such as strawberries, please run the pureed fruit sauce through a mesh sieve with a silicone spatula to remove any seeds that would be difficult for the swallow. Line the mesh sieve with coarse cheesecloth to eliminate the seeds.

Swirl Away!