Old Fashioned 5 Cup Salad

This is the most simple of all creamy fruit salads…5 cup salad.  It couldn’t be easier…just mix and chill.  There are a lot of variations; you may want to try them all, but this simple recipe is really just about perfect – not too sweet.  It can serve as both a salad and dessert.  It’s always a hit at any kind of “bring-along” meal – there are fans of all ages.    It's a great salad for holiday get-togethers.                  

                        Old Fashioned 5 Cup Salad

  1                cup  mandarin oranges -- (11 ounce can) drained

  1                cup  crushed pineapple -- (8 ounce can) drained (or chunks)

  1                cup  mini marshmallows

  1                cup  sweetened coconut

  1                cup  sour cream

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving. Serves about 6, so increase as needed. Garnish individual servings with a sprinkle of pecans, a dollop of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry, if desired.

Variations: If desired, substitute half sour cream with half whipped cream, or Cool Whip to reduce the tartness of the sour cream. Also can substitute a sweetened vanilla, or other flavored yogurt for the sour cream. Lower fat products are fine. For color, shake the coconut with a little food coloring before adding, to make it more seasonal in color; red for Christmas, pink for Easter, or green for St. Patrick's Day. To make it sweeter, stir in some powdered sugar.

6 Cup Salad : Add in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.

7 Cup Salad : Add in one (8 ounce) container of thawed Cool Whip.

8 Cup Salad : Add in one small jar of well drained maraschino cherries, halved.