Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Mama's Sweet Southern Ambrosia...



Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners mean turkey and Mama's Southern Ambrosia.  We don't cook turkeys any other time of the year and we don't make ambrosia. My family loves fruit and fruit salads and we make them year round but throwing in those few extra ingredients and calling it ambrosia puts them into a catagory all its own.  It's sweet and tart, soft and crunchy and just plan yummy.  The perfect side for all the rich flavors of your turkey dinner.  It's beautiful served in your fancy holiday bowl and it is great as a left over treat. Try it, I know you'll enjoy it. It's yummy!
Mama"s Southern Ambrosia
1 large can of pineapple chunks – drain off the juice
1 large can of mandarin orange sections – drain off the juice
1 large can of peaches – chopped into bite size pieces and drained
2 bananas – sliced and sprinkled lightly with lemon juice so as not to brown
1 ½ Cups of seedless grapes – sliced in half
1 ½ Cups of mini marshmallows – the pastel ones are pretty in here
1 can or half a bag of shredded sweetened coconut – more or less to taste
1/2 Cup of red cherries cut into half. Can be left out, we do sometimes.
¾ Cup of chopped Pecans – can use more or less to taste
1 pint container of Sour Cream
2 tablespoons of Light Brown Sugar – Stir well into the sour cream and let sit awhile to dissolve

Carefully fold all ingredients together and serve in a pretty bowl. We sometimes use a trifle bowl and it looks so nice that way.  Ambrosia is best after it has set for a few hours in refrigerator and even overnight giving the flavors time to meld.



 

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

A Wonderful Fall Treat and Yummy Anytime...


 Looking through my recipes for something fall and yummy to come up with for a shower later this week I was reminded of this fabulous pumpkin dip I make so often at this time of the year. It is so easy to do, and it always goes so quickly, that it is perfect for parties. I also served it with slices of apples and pears, ginger snaps or any fruit that is handy.  Fresh fruit is best because it still has some firmness to the pieces.  Use your favorites and for an extra treat I have spread it on toast, muffins and toasted pound cake slices.  Yummy!!  

Creamy Pumpkin Dip
2 - 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1 cup brown sugar (I like the light best but use what you have)
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 can of Libby's pumpkin - 15 oz size (my favorite but any brand you use is okay)
2 teaspoons maple syrup (have left it out before but the maple gives it a little extra kick)
1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
Beat together all of the ingredients with a mixer until it is extra smooth and creamy.  Put in a pretty bowl that looks like fall, cover and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.   Set you bowl out on a pretty platter and surround with fresh slices of fruit and any other goodies you would like on your plate. I know you and your company are going to love this and if you want to make it a bit healthier it works just as well with low fat cream cheese.  Just make sure you use the same amounts.

For an added goodie I often serve either mulled wine or apple cider, but lately I have had a few pumpkin spice lattes and when I figure out that recipe, that will be on menu as well.  Anyone with the pumpkin spice latte secret let me know?