The summer months bring forth an abundance of fresh fruit and produce. Fruit salad can be as simple as fruit alone or complex with layers and many ingredients. Test these out and send reviews or recipes to [email protected].
Daddy’s Holiday Best Fruit Salad
1 can fruit cocktail, in syrup
1 can pears
1 can cling peaches
1 lg. red delicious apple
1 cup chopped pecans
1 can Baker’s coconut
1 bottle small maraschino cherries
1 lg. naval orange
1 lg. banana (optional)
1 can crushed pineapple
Drain syrup from canned fruits and set aside. Dice apple into medium-size pieces and coat with lemon juice to stop browning. Slice banana, if using. Supreme the orange and cut slices into thirds. Drain juice from cherries and set aside. Halve cherries. Combine all ingredients, adding about 1/4 cup cherry juice.
If adding banana, coat with lemon juice to keep from browning. Refrigerate before serving. Serve with whipped topping or whipped cream.
Heavenly Hash Fruit Salad
SALAD INGREDIENTS
1 bunch seedless white grapes
1 bunch seedless dark grapes
4-5 apples cut into 1/2-inch pieces
8-oz. can maraschino cherries
2 6.5-oz. cans mandarin orange sections, well drained
1 bunch celery hearts, cut into small cubes
2 20-oz. cans pineapple chunks, very well drained
1 bunch bananas (4-5 medium), peeled and sliced
1 pkg. miniature marshmallows
8 oz. walnut pieces
SALAD DRESSING
16 oz. whipped topping (2 8-oz. tubs), thawed
2 1/2 cups mayonnaise, light
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tbsp. granulated sugar (or to taste)
2 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp. rum or almond extract (your choice, to taste)
You will need 1 very large bowl (15-inch diameter) for the salad, and a medium mixing bowl (10 inches tall) for mixing the dressing.
Wash and drain all fresh fruits and celery and allow to drain until as dry as possible. Drain all canned ingredients well. Remove grapes from stems, cut in half if you wish, and add to the large mixing bowl. Cut cherries in half, if you wish (and remove stems if needed), Add all to the salad bowl, along with drained orange segments and pineapple chunks. Cut up apples and celery as directed in ingredients list. Add to the large bowl. Peel and slice bananas, and add to salad bowl. Add miniature marshmallows. Add walnut pieces to the salad bowl.
To make the salad dressing, place thawed whipped topping in a medium mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise and whisk them together. Add sugar, spices, and rum or almond extract. Whisk well to thoroughly combine. Pour dressing over salad in large bowl, and gently fold all ingredients with a rubber spatula until well coated with dressing. Place saran wrap snugly over salad bowl. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.