Festive Fruit Salad Recipes

I love fruit salad anytime of the year, but especially so during the holidays. I remember when I first started preparing meals. When I was younger I thought that fruit salad was a can of fruit cocktail mixed with some whipped topping. There is nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong, but fruit salad is so much tastier when you use fresh fruit, instead of the canned stuff.

Ingredients:

1 banana peeled and cut into bite sized pieces (be sure to soak the banana slices in lemon juice for a little while, to keep them from turning brown)

1 apple peeled and cored and cut into bite size pieces

1 pear peeled and cored and cut into bite size pieces

1 orange peeled, sectioned, the outer membrane and the seeds removed and then cut into bite sized pieces

¾ cup of grapes washed (the grapes may be cut in half if you so desire)

1 peach peeled and the seed removed then cut into bite sized pieces

1 small jar of maraschino cherries drained and cut in half

½ cup fresh pineapple chunks

¾ cup of miniature marshmallows(If you can find the multi-colored, fruit flavored marshmallows, They work the best)

½ cup chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds which ever you prefer

½ cup of shredded coconut

1 large container of whipped topping (I prefer cool whip)

Place all of the ingredients into a very large salad bowl and stir in enough whipped topping to completely cover all of your ingredients. Refrigerate immediately after mixing. Serve chilled.

For those of you who prefer to use canned fruit cocktail. Here is a recipe that I use when I am pressed for time. And honestly, it is more economical, since the prices of fruit have sky rocketed. This recipe is also tasty. I just really like the fresh fruit version better.

Ingredients:

2 cans fruit cocktail, thoroughly drain off all of the liquid (I like to use the tropical fruit blend)

½ cup pecans

½ cup coconut

¾ cup miniature marshmallows (If you can find the multi-colored, fruit flavored marshmallows, they work the best)

1 container of whipped topping (I prefer Cool Whip)

Mix all ingredients in a large salad bowl. Promptly refrigerate the fruit salad after mixing. Serve chilled.

A really great way to serve either of these wonderful fruit salads is to cut a pineapple in half and remove the fruit from inside the rind, while keeping the rind in tact. Scoop your fruit salad into the cavity of the pineapple and serve.