It’s summer, it’s hot, and you want something cold. If you have an ice cream maker, time to make your own ice cream and frozen yogurt! But even if you don’t, you can still enjoy cool milkshakes and Greek yogurt parfaits made with fresh ingredients and a minimum of sugar. (Store-bought yogurt often contains more sugar than an equivalent amount of Coke.) And unlike frozen treats, on-the-spot milkshakes and parfaits are nearly instant—no need to plan ahead to enjoy a refreshing DIY dessert. When you’re pondering your possibilities, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Opt for whole-milk, organic plain or Greek yogurt. Low-fat and flavored varieties contain loads of sugar. Better to add your own fresh fruit and/or your own drizzle of maple syrup or honey!
• Opt for whole milk, preferably unhomogenized and low-heat pasteurized and from grass-fed cows. Grass-fed dairy products contain higher levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats compared to conventional dairy products (the latter contain higher levels of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats).  If you can get raw milk from a local farmer or use Amasai.   Amasai is from grass-fed cows and has the non-inflammatory casein protein in it and is better for people who cannot normally tolerate milk or want to heal their digestive system naturally.
• Look for “creamline” or “cream-top” milk. This is the least-processed milk you can buy. And since the cream rises to the top in unhomogenized milk, you can pour it off it you like and enjoy two products for the price of one! (Note that unhomogenized simply means that the cream separates from the milk. This has nothing to do with pasteurization.)
• If you are dairy-free try coconut milk as a substitute!  Makes a rich, creamy dessert.  More about dairy-free can be found in my book The Guide to a Dairy-Free Diet

MILKSHAKES

To make a vanilla milkshake: blend 1 cup of whole milk or coconut milk with 1 ice cube, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup (or less), and a splash of vanilla extract.

To make a chocolate milkshake: add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the vanilla recipe.

For a strawberry milkshake: add sliced strawberries to the vanilla recipe.

YOGURT PARFAIT

To make a yogurt parfait: stir a little maple syrup and vanilla extract into whole-milk plain Greek yogurt. Stir strawberry jam into another bowl of yogurt. In the third bowl, stir in unsweetened cocoa powder and maple syrup in a 2:1 ratio (i.e., 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 of maple syrup). Spoon the yogurts into a pretty glass in layers, topping with fresh fruit and chopped nuts if you like.

DON’T FORGET A FUN STRAW!

I found these amazing, glass, reusable straws!  CLICK HERE to check out local Michigan company Strawesome and find some fun, eco-friendly straws for your next milkshake, smoothie or even for your water!