You know when you’re in a bind and can’t really bring that one dish you promised for the office potluck or your friend’s little get-together?

Well the day has come where I can now sympathize with others meeting this dreadful fate. It also doesn’t help that the theme is always a bit obscure – where creativity is a must, but deliciousness cannot be forgone. This time the theme was to indulge in ‘Merica with red, white, and blue foods or a plate chock full of something that yells U S of A.

Well, I always keep my fridge stocked with fruit and granola so I decided to try a little something healthy for my friends this time around. I figured that if presentation is about 30 percent of the dish and taste is the remaining 70, then I wouldn’t have to do any cooking, baking, or grilling to impress my pals. Instead I would focus on the presentation and use simple ingredients that are quite good on their own. Only five ingredients and about 300 calories, this low-fat and yummy dessert is definitely one to try out!

Candice Allouch is a senior at American University having just returned from a year abroad in Italy and Scotland. She loves to experiment with tastes in the kitchen and is excited to bring the new foody secrets she learned from Europe to her friends and family in the States.

Independence Day Parfait
Serves 4

Ingredients
1½ cups of Cool Whip (or any whipped topping)
1 cup of vanilla yogurt
1 pint of strawberries
1 pint of blueberries
1 cup of granola

Set aside about a fourth cup of whipped topping in a Ziplock bag. Fold the remaining whipped topping into the vanilla yogurt until just blended.

De-stem and quarter the strawberries. De-stem the blueberries. Divide the fruit up into four equal portions and put each portion in a cup. Then layer the yogurt mixture, granola, and then blueberries onto the strawberry base.

Take a scissor and snip off a corner from the Ziplock bag. Use it as a piping tool to squeeze a dollop of whipped topping onto each parfait. Top with a mini American flag for an extra dose of red, white, and blue.

Enjoy the guilt-free pleasure of a patriotic parfait!