Delightfully Delicous Fruit Salad

I have been making this fruit salad for over twenty years. It has been a favorite at every occasion that I have served it. Ingredients can vary to you preference, but the main key is to mix the Jello Pudding and the cool whip before adding fruit. This is especially important if you stick to the Pistachio pudding, otherwise all your fruit will turn green and the dish will not be as appealing. Coconut and marshmallows can be added to your taste, as well as chopped nuts-pecans, walnuts or pistachios.

• 1-3.4oz box Pistachio Jello Pudding
• 1-6.7 oz package cool whip or low fat topping
• 2- Ripe bananas sliced
• 1-3.5 oz bag cinnamon bears or 1 small jar of cherries sliced and drained
• 1-8 oz can Pineapple tidbits and drained
• 1-8 oz can Pineapple crushed and drained
• 1-11 oz can mandarin oranges drained and sliced in half

Empty cool whip into mixing bowl and prepare to mix pudding with cool whip. Do not add fruit until cool whip and pudding are well mixed. The Pistachio pudding will turn the cool whip green and anything else that is mix with it in the beginning. Add fruit one at a time mixing each to cool whip and pudding mixture.

Some have added coconut and marshmallows to this recipe, but I prefer it without them. You may substitute other fruit both fresh and canned.

• Take the cool whip and pour in the Pistachio pudding. mix well until all jello powder is moist and blended with cool whip.
• Mix in the mandarin oranges and blend well.
• Mix in cinnamon bears that have been thinly sliced or sliced cherries.
• Mix in pineapple tidbits and blend all ingredients together.
• Mix in crushed pineapple and blend well.
• Mix in bananas and blend well.
• Add nuts, coconut or marshmallows to liking and blend well.

Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. You may either chill in one serving dishes or individual serving dishes. The colors are very appealing to the eye. The pineapple tidbits add extra bite size flavor while the crushed pineapple give that pineapple pleasure with every bite.