Fresh Fruit Parfait

• 1 rounded cup ( 1/2 dry pint) blackberries, raspberries, or hulled strawberries, plus 2 extra beautiful berries per person for garnish
• 1 rounded tablespoon seedless raspberry jam
• 2 large, ripe, but firm bananas
• 1 to 2 teaspoons strained fresh lemon juice
• 4 cups melon balls from two or three different types of ripe melon
• Two 8-ounce containers vanilla yogurt
• Your favorite granola or some dry-toasted sliced almonds or walnuts
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish

1. Place the berries in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade or in a blender.
2. Process the berries until thoroughly pureed.
3. Place the jam in a 1-quart saucepan.
4. Position a fine-mesh sieve over the pan and pour the berry puree into the sieve.
5. Using a sturdy rubber or wooden spatula, rub the puree through the sieve, leaving the seeds behind (straining is not necessary if using strawberries).
6. Bring the pureed mixture just to a simmer over low heat, stirring to break up any coagulated jam.
7. Remove this from the stove, pour it into a bowl, and let it cool.
8. When youre almost ready to serve the parfaits, lay each peeled banana on a flat surface.
9. Use a gentle but firm hand to scoop down into the banana flesh, with a melon bailer, making a full clockwise revolution with the scoop.
10. Lift the scoop and, to help the banana ball pop out, knock the stem of the scooper over the rim of a bowl.
11. When youve measured at least 1 cup, toss them with the lemon juice to prevent them from discoloring.
12. Gently fold together the banana and melon balls.
13. Place 1 1/4 cups of the fruit balls in each parfait glass and ladle 1/3 to 1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt over the fruit.
14. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the berry puree on top of the yogurt.
15. Allow the parfait to sit for a few minutes so the toppings can trickle down throughout the fruit.
16. If desired, top each parfait with a tablespoon or so of your favorite granola or some toasted sliced almonds.
17. Garnish each serving with two plump berries and a beautiful sprig of fresh mint.

blackberries, seedless raspberry jam, ripe, lemon juice, melon balls from two, vanilla yogurt, favorite granola, mint

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/fresh-fruit-parfait (may not work)