It is a know fact that no matter how perfect your beehive, no matter how spotless your white gloves, no matter how confident you are in yourself and your choices, there are those that will, perhaps, disagree.
I, personally, celebrate the arrival of Spring (and any other festive occasion) with a salad made of fruit and whipped topping. Frozen fruit salad, fruit enrobed in drifts of whipped topping representing the exit of winter and the entrance of spring. I look on this ritual as drama, a connection to the great continuum of the turning seasons, food fraught with meaning not to mention frozen fruit salad is just yummy!
However, as stated above, there are those that have not embraced their inner Fabiola and therefore do not understand the symbolism and yummyness of Frozen Fruit Salad. Therefore they refer to my extravaganza and celebration of spring (and any other festive occasion) as "White Trash Salad". How sad for them, they have not embraced their inner Fabiola, they do not understand the beauty of the beehive hairdo.
Frozen Fruit Salad (a celebration of Spring and any other festive occasion)
1 tablespoon (1 envelope) unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
2 cups fruit cocktail
1/2 cup Miracle Whip (not mayonnaise from a jar, not hoity toity homemade fresh fresh fresh, handmade mayonnaise, - tangy salad dressing, I mean it).
1 container Cool Whip (you can substitute your favorite whipped topping)
1/3 cup maraschino cherries
1/3 cup chopped pecans
Soften gelatine in cold water, dissolve over hot water - do not add hot water! Place your bowl containing the gelatine and cold water inside another bowl containing hot water - stir until gelatine is completely dissolved. Cool slightly. Add the fruit cocktail (with syrup). Fold in Miracle Whip, Cool Whip and chopped pecans
Pour into an 8x8 freezer safe container or gelatine mold, place in freezer until just firm. Cut the barely frozen salad into squares and serve.
Side Note: The maraschino cherries are optional Fabiola uses them like this:
Maraschino Cherries with Dipping Sauce
You, dear reader, may be somewhat more traditional. If you want the cherries in your frozen fruit salad, drain the maraschino cherries, pat dry with paper towels. Fold into the salad mixture last, just before freezing. Your salad will turn a lovely shade of pink.