Vishesh's 5-Minute Matzo Crumble

We're in the middle of Passover, and there are matzo crackers in the Ratty every day. With such crunchy texture and unassuming flavor, they just beg to be crushed and re-purposed. I tried to keep this crumble as kosher as possible by avoiding corn syrup and oats, but there is enormous potential for variation on this base.

Since the key ingredients are all pretty mellow, you can easily infuse whatever flavor you like with fruit pieces, zests, or juices! A good squeeze of lemon juice permeates the taste and aroma, but I've tried similarly delicious versions this week with half a teaspoon of orange juice, apple juice, or peanut butter instead. Oats or granola can be substituted for some of the matzo for added crunch, and if ice cream is used instead of yogurt, the cold will help it harden so the minute waiting can be skipped! :)

5-Minute Matzo Crumble 
2 packets of sugar
2 pats of butter
1 lemon slice
1 tsp of honey
1 large matzo cracker (e.g. Manischewitz)
plain yogurt (soft serve)

Add the sugar, butter, honey, and a full squeeze of lemon juice to a bowl, and melt the butter in the microwave for 10 seconds. Crush the matzo into small pieces, and add it to the bowl. Stir well, so that the matzo is all lightly coated. Press the matzo to crush it further and form a thinner layer. Microwave for 15 seconds, stir and press again, and microwave for another 15 seconds. Allow a minute to let it set, top with yogurt, and enjoy!

Vishesh's Berry Tostadas

Tostada means "toasted" in Spanish. Usually, the "toasted" is referring to the golden fried tortilla upon which toppings, usually of the savory variety, are piled. Owing to the delightful cornucopia of seasonal ingredients at the Ratty and the boundless creativity of Brown students, tostadas at the Ratty need not be restricted by their usual meat and salt-laden accompaniments.

Special thanks to Vishesh Jain for emailing us with this elegant recipe for berry tostadas! According to Vishesh, these crunchy chips can be topped with "all kinds of yogurts and berries" - truly a recipe that is only limited by one's imagination (and the whims of the Ratty).

Vishesh's Berry Tostadas
strawberries, sliced
raspberries
blueberries
tostada chips
whipped cream
honey
mint leaves, shredded

Spread tostada chips in a circular monolayer on plate. Put dollops of whipped cream on top, then top with berries. Garnish with mint and a drizzle of honey.

Berry Patch Coffee Cake

A fun way to dress up your coffee cake and pretend it's spring in the middle of this lovely fall weather.

Berry Patch Coffee Cake
1 slice of coffee cake
plain yogurt
shredded coconut
cranberries
blueberry jam
raspberry jam

1. Garnish the coffee cake with yogurt, coconut, blueberry jam, and cranberries.
2. Dot the plate with raspberry jam.

Yogurt Pancake Stack

Perfect for Sunday Brunch! Don't be fooled by its demure beauty - this pancake tower is a dangerous sticky edible monster poised for attack. The minute you sink your fork into it, expect the pancakes to slide off of the yogurt and the honey will inevitably get on your fingers and you will be covered in a delicious mess. For serious eaters only.

Yogurt Pancake Stack

3 pancakes

strawberry yogurt

raspberry jam

sliced bananas

honey

1. Spray pancakes with cooking spray and grill both sides on the panini until toasted and crisp on the outside yet still soft and warm on the inside.

2. Put one pancake on the plate.

3. Top with yogurt and half of the sliced bananas.

4. Place another pancake on top.

5. Top with yogurt and jam.

6. Place the final pancake on top.

7. Garnish with sliced bananas and honey.

Basil Olive Oil Honey Yogurt

Olive oil on yogurt? Why not? There's something about basil infused olive oil that pairs nicely with the sweetness of honey, and the bitter yet sweet undertones of the herb with the warm spice of cinnamon create a deep flavor profile that is perfect on cool yogurt.

Basil Olive Oil Honey Yogurt

1 large dollop plain yogurt

2 Tbsp basil olive oil

3 tsp honey

dash of cinnamon sugar

salad leaves for garnish

1. Drizzle a plate with honey.

2. Generously dollop (that's a technical term) the yogurt onto the center of the plate. Try to create height.

3. Drizzle with basil infused olive oil.

4. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and garnish with salad leaves.

Roasted Strawberries and Yogurt

I love these strawberries, and undoubtedly they are good with whipped cream and pound cake, but they are just as good (and good for you!) paired with cool, creamy yogurt and heart-healthy wheat germ flakes.

Roasted Strawberries and Yogurt

1 bowl of yogurt

1 tsp honey

2 roasted strawberries and some juice

2 Tbsp wheat germ

1. Top the bowl of yogurt with an even drizzle of honey.

2. Sprinkle wheat germ on top and garnish with strawberries.

Cracklin' Oat Bran Yogurt

A healthy and yummy dessert or breakfast! I love Cracklin Oat Bran because it has a nutmeg and cinnamon flavor and a nutty crunch from the toasted oat bran, perfectly complementing the tang of plain yogurt. Just a little dollop of sour cream adds a nice balance to the nonfat yogurt, and the peanut butter and seeds enhance the nutty flavor of the cereal while cinnamon heightens its spice.

Cracklin' Oat Bran Yogurt
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1 Tbsp old fashioned peanut butter
1 dash of cinnamon
1/4 cup Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal
2 Tbsp sour cream
2 tsp pumpkin seeds
1 tsp sunflower seeds

1. Put yogurt in a bowl.
2. Top with peanut butter, sprinkle on cinnamon, and add cereal. Dollop on sour cream and sprinkle nuts around.

Yogurt with Grape Jelly Honey Drizzle

Grape jelly mixes with honey to create an interesting balance of fruity tartness and honey sweetness that contrasts nicely with plain yogurt and crunchy granola.

Yogurt with Grape Jelly Honey Drizzle

1/2 cup plain yogurt

2 packets grape jelly

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tbsp granola

1. In a small cup, mix grape jelly with honey.

2. In a separate bowl, toss granola with cinnamon.

3. Drizzle grape jelly honey over yogurt and sprinkle cinnamon-coated granola on top.

Grapefruit Cinnamon Honey Yogurt

If you picked up a copy of the Brown Daily Herald for Tuesday 12/1, then you'll likely recognize this yogurt creation from the front page! We would like to extend our thanks to Monique for interviewing us and writing about Ratty Gourmet, and I might add that the finishing touch of adding granola to this recipe was Monique's brilliant suggestion.

Grapefruit Cinnamon Honey Yogurt

3/4 cup plain yogurt

1 tsp cinnamon sugar

1/2 grapefruit

drizzle honey

sprinkling of granola

1. Spoon yogurt into bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top.

2. Cut grapefruit into small sections and arrange on top of yogurt.

3. Add a drizzle of honey, a sprinkling of granola, and enjoy.

Fruit and Yogurt Salad

It takes a little patience to cut the fruit, but it's worth it! (especially if the kiwis are ripe, the contrary to which we have all adversely experienced) Needless to say, honey with plain yogurt is a classic combo you just can't beat.

Fruit and Yogurt Salad

1 kiwi, cut into bite-sized chunks

1 orange, cut into bite-sized chunks

melon and pineapple chunks

1/2 banana, sliced

1/2 grapefruit, cut into bite-sized chunks

1/2 cup plain yogurt

2 tsp honey

1. Combine fruit in a bowl.

2. Spoon yogurt on top and drizzle with honey.

Kashi Honey Banana Yogurt

Thick rich banana medallions accent the hearty crunch of Kashi cereal laced with sticky honey, all atop a bowl of silken yogurt for a delicious breakfast. The picture is self-explanatory, but here's the recipe just for kicks:

Kashi Honey Banana Yogurt

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/4 cup Kashi Go-Lean Crunch

1 Tbsp honey

8 thick slices of banana

1. Put everything together in a bowl and make it look gorgeous.

2. Dig in.

Yogurt with Glazed Blueberries and Granola

Perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Yogurt with Glazed Blueberry and Granola

1/2 plain yogurt

1/4 cup Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal

1/4 cup organic granola

1 tbsp blueberry sauce

whipped cream

1. Fill a cup halfway with yogurt.

2. Add Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal and/or granola.

3. Add 1 tbsp of glazed blueberries and garnish with a short burst of whipped cream. Enjoy.

Strawberries and Cream Yogurt

The tangy-ness of the strawberries perfectly complement the silky light whipped cream, which contrasts harmoniously with the crunchy honey granola and cool, refreshing yogurt. Takes seconds to make, and it's a treat for any time of the day.

Strawberries and Cream Yogurt

1 scoop plain yogurt

1/4 cup Oats and Honey Granola

1 scoop strawberries in syrup

1 dollop whipped cream

1. Fill a coffee mug with yogurt, granola, and strawberries.

2. Garnish with whipped cream and devour.