First off, I would like to say thank you to anyone reading this that has served our country or has lost a loved one who was serving our country. I am a CRAZILY patriotic person and I really do thank you for your service and sacrifice from the bottom of my heart. My step-father David Ortiz served in the Korean war, and my grandfather Horace Scott Strain Sr. served in World War II. I cannot imagine the courage and fierce pride that it takes to fight for your country. I truly do honor and appreciate beyond the scope of written words, what those who have lost their lives in service have done for our country. Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making the ultimate sacrifice so that I may do things like sleep well at night, safe and sound.
As most Americans do, on any possible holiday, we barbeque. Memorial Day is no different. We celebrate and honor our fallen heroes by eating hamburgers and potato salad. And that is pretty damn weird. Thank you for dying for our country, please pass the macaroni salad. But we celebrate their memory. We celebrate their courage. We celebrate because we are Americans and that's what we do.
Today we're having a swim party and potluck at our friend's house and aside from bringing hot dogs and buns and some 2 liters of soda, I'm making two dessert side dishes. I know I should have made some red, white and blue dessert, but I didn't want to. I'll save that for 4th of July. Because both of these recipes looked equally good, and called for a lot of the same types of ingredients, I couldn't decide. Then I saw that they both called for 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows and that made up my mind for me. They were meant to be together, sharing a bag of marshmallows in perfect harmony.
First up, Orange Fluff Jello Salad!
The obligatory ingredient shot.
The first thing you're gonna do is put a large box of cook and serve vanilla pudding, a large box of orange Jello, and 2 cups of water in a pan. Over medium heat, you're going to stir it until it comes to a boil and then take it off and pour it into a bowl.
It will look like this.
Chill that stuff in the fridge for an hour. When you take it out, it'll be all weird. Kinda firmish Jello-ish puddingish stuff. That's cool. That's what you want. Then you're gonna get out your beaters and beat it on medium high until it gets all nice and creamy like.
Like so!
While you are whipping this, let your fruit drain in a colander. You will drain a 20 ounce can of pineapple tidbits, and 22 ounces of mandarin orange slices. Bananas are optional, but I didn't add them, because they're going in the other salad.
To this now creamy mixture you will fold in 16 ounces of cool whip. Stir it around gently til it's all mixed in. You will have a scary moment where it looks like it's gonna separate, but that okay! It comes together. I promise you. Add your pineapple, oranges and 1/2 bag mini marshmallows. Stir that all around and it will look like this:
YUMMMMMMM!
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Orange Fluff Jello Salad
- 1 large package cook and serve vanilla pudding (4.6 ounces)
- 1 large package orange Jello (6 ounces)
- 2 cups water
- 1 16 oz Cool-Whip (lite or fat-free is fine)
- 1/2 bag mini marshmallows
- 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits (drained)
- 22 ounces mandarin oranges (drained) (I couldn't find this size, so I bought 2 smaller cans)
- 2 to 3 bananas, sliced (Optional, put in before serving so they don't turn brown in the fridge)
- Mix together pudding, Jell-o, and water over medium heat until it boils. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Refrigerate until mixture has thickened (about an hour). Beat until creamy. Fold in Cool Whip, marshmallows, and fruit. Chill about an hour before serving.
I found the original recipe here: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/12/orange-fluff-jello-salad-recipe.html
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Review: I don't normally like orange stuff, but this was off the hook! All the kids at the potluck LOVED this. It was SO good! Totally a keeper. Chloe liked it so much, that she asked me to make it for her end of year class picnic. 4 stars.
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Next up, Strawberry Cheesecake Salad!
This stuff is what you need.
Mix 12 ounces of cool whip (I bought a 16 ounce tub and took out 1/2 cup), 3 6 ounce containers of strawberry yogurt, and one small box of cheesecake instant pudding.
I could eat it just like this.
Now set it in the fridge for an hour to set itself up. Before you serve it add 1 pound sliced strawberries, 3 sliced bananas, and 1/2 bag mini marshmallows. It'll look like this:
How good does that look, huh? In this crappy lighting.
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Strawberry Cheesecake Salad
- 12 ounces whipped topping
- 1 small box cheesecake flavored Jello instant pudding
- 3 6 ounce containers strawberry yogurt
- 1 pound sliced strawberries
- 3 bananas
- 1/2 bag mini marshmallows
- Thaw whipped topping overnight in the fridge. In a large bowl stir together whipped topping, all three yogurts, and pudding powder. Let this set up in the fridge for at least an hour. Wash and slice strawberries (I did this the night before). You can add the strawberries to the salad or wait to add them with sliced bananas and marshmallows just before serving which is what I did.
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I found the original recipe at: http://mommys-menu.blogspot.com/2012/05/strawberry-cheesecake-salad.html
Review: This was AMAZING! The adults prefered this salad, and I loved it ALMOST as much as the orange one. Certainly a keeper. I think the marshmallows made it a little too sweet, but no one else did. So throw those suckers in! 4 stars.
So, everybody liked both of them pretty darn equally. My mom couldn't decide which was better. Side by side they belong together.
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