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Easy Cat in the Hat parfaits
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Cat in the Hat Parfaits, perfect for spring and celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss. - photo by Jana Stocks Brown
For many people, one of their first introductions to reading was through the crazy colors, characters and meter of the writings of Dr. Seuss. These stories also introduce a lot of fun and crazy foods, from green eggs and ham to truffula fruit and yink, ink, pink, drink! With Dr. Seuss' birthday, and National Read Across America Day, approaching on March 2, it's a great time to brush off your books and create some Seussian celebration foods.

These fun snacks can be as easy as colored goldfish in a dish, pink lemonade in fun cups with crazy straws, roast beast finger sandwiches or Cat in the Hat Trifle. No matter what you make, it's a great time to embrace reading together and sharing food that's a bit off the beaten path.

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Cat in the Hat Trifle or Parfait

1 angel food cake mix with sprinkles

16 ounces whipped cream or cool whip

1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced

2-3 bananas, sliced

Colored sugar or sprinkles (if desired)

Prepare cake mix according to box directions. Line a 10-by-15-inch pan with parchment paper or waxed paper and pour in the batter. Smooth and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until lightly brown on the top. Allow to cool, and lift out of the pan. Cut into cake cubes.

Layer cake cubes, strawberries, whipped cream and bananas in a large trifle dish, making thick stripes like the hat of the Cat in the Hat, and decorate with colored sugar or sprinkles to add flair. You can also prepare this dish in parfait glasses following the same layering procedure for the individual servings.

Other fun toppings can include colorful cereals to stand in for truffula fruit or swirling fruit glaze in shapes on top of the whipped cream.
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