Sunday, September 22, 2013

First Fall Breakfast...Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake Yogurt Parfaits

Happy Sunday and Happy Fall! This morning we awoke AT HOME...to a beautiful bright sunny fall morning. It was 57 degrees when we got up and absolutely gorgeous outside. We decided to "seize the cool morning" and begin it with a long walk. We walked over 1-1/2 hours just soaking in the bright sunshine on this first fall morning. I had originally planned to make some type of eggs for breakfast this morning, but decided something more fall-like was more appropriate to celebrate the beginning of fall. I had all kinds of wild ideas as we walked back...but I decided to keep it simple since we are celebrating my oldest son's birthday later today.

I mixed 1 cup of Greek Gods creamy full fat yogurt with cinnamon, a couple drops of vanilla extract and a few drops of stevia...but I wanted my breakfast to say fall....no, I wanted it to SCREAM FALL...so I made a pumpkin-cheesecake swirl to add to it and convert it from a ho-hum (but delicious) cinnamon-vanilla Greek yogurt into a full fledged Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake Yogurt Parfait loaded with all the flavors of fall!

It was so simple, in a small bowl, I added 1 ounce of softened brick-style cream cheese to it, about 3 tablespoons of 100% pure canned pumpkin (not the pie filling), 1 tablespoon of confectioners style Swerve, a few drops of pure Maple extract (by OliveNation) a few heavy dashes of cinnamon and mixed it all together until smooth and creamy with a rubber spatula. It became a maple-cinnamon-pumpkin-cheesecake-ish layer to make my little parfaits with. I layered the cinnamon-vanilla Greek yogurt alternately in mini-trifle bowls with my pumpkin layer, sprinkling with finely chopped pecans between each layer. I was in pumpkin heaven this morning and it was a great, simple wheat-free way to usher in fall (these would also make a great dessert as well). I enjoyed it with a cup of Nantucket coffee with cream. I snapped a few photos for you to see below. Enjoy!




24 comments:

Sami said...

Looks delicious and I love cheesecake type desserts. Since I have never seen pumpkin in a can here in Australia, would I be able to substitute with boiled or roasted pumpkin?

Darlene said...

Hi GG! Happy Fall-my favorite season! Your "fallish" breakfast looks fantastic! I've been thinking about making a "pumpkin latte"-type coffee drink. I used to get them @DD but now know they have too much sugar of course.

Your last photo of Spike is just adorable--that face! He looks similar to my white Schnoodle (from the neck up ha ha)

Did you pick up that assortment of shells on the beach (in the photo?) I've loved shells since I was young and still love to hunt for them whenever I'm near the ocean (which in my case has been much too long ago).

You are so loyal, keeping up your blog while you were on vacation! Welcome home; enjoy your afternoon.

Unknown said...

Thank you! This is wonderful, even hubby liked it. This time of year I dream of pumpkin muffins, pancakes, bars..anything. Unfortunately all are full of sugar and carbs.

unter der laterne said...

Hi GG, your blog made me laugh--such exuberance, it seems as if you are in *over drive*, I mean this in a good way! That vacation was almost a renewal of *body and spirit*, yes? I am happy for you, could you send me some of that ?lol

Your ingredients for your *super concoction* were all chilled?
I am making this tout de suite, since I have all the ingredients at hand. My husband is in the mountains again, so I will have this for supper.(green salad first)
Have a wonderful time with your son!
Bis bald! Barbara.

Becky @ Becky's Place said...

You know, I'm thinking if I had cute little truffle style dessert dishes, maybe I'd like yogurt more... This looks very good! I've started a pumpkin kick, as well, this week. I made my husband and I pumpkin lattes this weekend. While I was portioning the leftovers out to put into the freezer, one of my cats came in and started begging. I couldn't believe it but my finicky fat-boy loved the plain pumpkin! He must've ate several tablespoons worth. Now, to try to remember to look for full fat plain yogurt again... I quit eating the little that I did when Fage no longer showed up on our store shelves except in a low-fat to no-fat version.

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Sami! Yes, you could easily use fresh pumpkin that you have roasted or cooked -- just like you would if you were to make a pumpkin pie. So I am guessing they don't sell "Libby's Canned Pumpkin" there. I know some people actually prefer their own cooked pumpkin over canned. Hope you are able to make it -- if you like more cheesecake flavor -- just add a little more cream cheese to it. I made one portion with the amounts I used. :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Darlene! Thanks. I love fall, too -- especially when the air gets crisp. You know that DD sells pumpkin spice flavored coffee for Keurig coffee machines if you have one of those. I wonder if you bought that coffee and used cream and a different sweetener if that might be a substitute sort of? Thanks...that photo of Spike was him peeking over the foot board of the bed...he literally wouldn't let us take him out of the bed -- he kept growling at us if we tried to take him out...LOL. The bowl of shells was actually at the place we stayed -- although I did bring home a bag of shells we actually picked up, too, and I am looking for a little glass jar to place them in. Thanks...it has been a busy day -- celebrated my oldest son's birthday so I had everyone over for dinner -- they all just left about 30 mins ago. I will post my dinner tomorrow since I will be eating leftovers again tomorrow! :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Thanks, unknown -- I know, any time I can try and recreate a little bit of what once was a high carb/sugar favorite into something that is healthier, I am thrilled -- sometimes just getting the "flavor" part in there helps a lot! :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Barbara! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you...I had all 3 kids here for dinner last this afternoon into the evening -- they left around 10:00 pm. It was a busy day being the first full day back home and doing a family dinner the same day! LOL If only there were such things as "magic wands"! :-) Yes, all the ingredients were chilled (except for the softened cream cheese -- this would be good if it were re-chilled to set up the cream cheese again -- I may even try it next time with more cream cheese -- today I wanted to taste pumpkin the most. Salad and parfait sounds like an awesome dinner. Don't you love doing that kind of dinner when it is just you? Yes, I do feel rejuvenated (except for this evening...I am a little tired from trying to rejoin reality again!). Hope you enjoy the time to yourself! :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Becky! LOL about maybe liking yogurt more in cute little dessert dishes. I so wish you could find Greek Gods plain full fat Greek yogurt -- it is the least tart of the yogurts I've tried -- even less so than Fage and I like it, too. I don't see it everywhere though for some reason. We have Kroger here and they sell it there and I think Whole Foods if I remember correctly. I wonder if you folded a little heavy cream (whipped or liquid) into lowfat Greek yogurt (like 2% Fage) if you would like it better? Some people just don't like it though...and maybe you are one of them. Sometimes it is just a matter of finding the "right one" for your taste, too though. Wow...never heard of a cat liking pumpkin...too funny. Someone once told me that if my dog had an upset stomach that plain pumpkin was good for them--never tried it though because it seems like it would make them sick...not better. It's kind of cute though that your cat actually liked it. Animals can be so funny, can't they! Well, hopefully you will be able to find a container of full fat yogurt and try it again. If you find one you like you can change it up so many different ways with extracts and all kinds of things. I'll keep my fingers crossed. :-)

CyberSis said...

Hi GGC,

I love the transition to Autumn, too, as well as anything Pumpkin ... especially if it's also Creamy! This breakfast/dessert is perfect! Along with Greek Gods and Fage, I find full-fat Stoneyfield to be *very* mild.

There's just one problem with Fall ... it's too short. Gotta make the most of it while we have it. :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi CyberSis! I haven't tried Stoneyfield full fat yogurt yet -- is it Greek or regular? I will look for it. I think the tartness in some brands/varieties is what puts many people off. I love pumpkin, too -- it's only 74 here at lunch time -- gorgeous out! You are right -- autumn is way too short!!! :-)

CyberSis said...

Hi GGC,

I'm referring to "regular" full-fat Stoneyfield. They do have a "Greek" style, but I don't care for it myself. The "regular" is very mild with a lovely fresh "dairy" flavor and a silky, creamy texture, but isn't quite as firm as Greek. If you need it super-thick you can always drain it through a coffee filter for a bit. I can't always find it, so right now I have Greek Gods. I had some with a little black currant extract this a.m. Super Yum!

Enjoy this beautiful season! :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi, just wanted to let Becky know and anyone else who might be interested that Walmart also carries the full fat Greek Gods full fat yogurt. They sell it in the big containers and it is green in color, reasonably priced too, I think it's less than $4. Hope that helps. Take care. Maria

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi CyberSis! Thanks...I will keep my eye out for it around here. Mmmmm, Greek Gods w/ the black currant extract sounds yummy! That truly is one of (if not my favorite) flavors that I never would have tried had it not been for yours and Barbara's recommendation. When I make my yogurt with it, I like to add some chopped walnuts, too. Every time I open that bottle I feel like I want to dab a little on my neck so I can smell it all day long -- I may just have to try that...LOL! :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Maria! Thank you for that tip about finding Greek Gods at Walmart. I had no idea -- that's good to know another source. More people probably live closer to a Walmart than some of the other individual local grocery chains -- and that is the container (green) that I buy, too. I actually had some tonight mixed with mashed strawberries. Thanks again for the tip! :-)

Sonshine Strong said...

Hi GGC,

Oh my quest to live life wheat-free, I stumbled across your site when I did a Google search. And I have to say that I am AMAZED at the wealth of information I am finding here!

I made this as a dessert last night and we both loved it! I always look forward to your e-mails to see what's new for the day. You have inspired me to get back into the kitchen and embrace this way of life. Thank you so much!!

~Cindy~

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Cindy! Thanks so much -- I'm so happy that you stumbled upon my site and glad that you liked the little yogurt parfait. I hope you find some other things to try as well. I hope you enjoy being "back in the kitchen" a bit -- I think it is much healthier for all of us in the long run. Thanks for your kind words. :-)

SLB said...

Oh my goodness! I made this dish this morning and it is "to die for!" I love the pumpkin layer the best but the dish overall is delicious!! I ordered some maple flavoring online recently and couldn't wait to try it so this was perfect!! I cooked a pumpkin last week and had some in the fridge, so I used that. My husband and I both live a wheat free life and are thankful for the resulting good health and weight loss. It's been 2.5 years for us and would never go back. Thanks again for all your yummy recipes and ideas!

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Thanks so much, SLB! So glad you enjoyed it too. It's pretty quick and easy to make, too - which is always a good thing! Thanks for letting me know -- I will never go back to wheat either! :-)

Kim said...

I know this is an old post, but I am eating this right now and it is excellent. Thank you so much for all your recipes. I am finally getting some recipes that the whole family will eat. It's nice not to have to make separate meals every night.

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Kim,

So happy you are enjoying it! Yes, I know how you feel. It is nice to be able to make one meal that everyone can enjoy. :-)

Unknown said...

I wanted to send you a recipe to help me translate it but I can not find your email address anywhere.

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Michele,

You can reach me at gourmet girl cooks blog at gmail dot com (no spaces).