We were talking Thanksgiving at work today, and that one Thanksgiving dish came up. You know, the one that’s a mix of whipped cream, marshmallows, and other stuff. The problem is what exactly do you call it? I’ve heard ambrosia, Waldorf salad, and marshmallow salad. Plus, virtually every family seems to add different ingredients. Is there a classic recipie that you’re supposed to follow, and what does your family add?
Well, Waldorf Saladis a specific recipe consisting of apples, celery and walnuts in a mayonaise dressing. As for the others…I’ve not had any of them.
Ambrosia is what you are thinking of. Waldorf is basically apples, celery, walnuts & Mayo
I’ve heard that some people add marshmallows to Waldorf salad (or at least ‘How to Cook Everything’ asks that you please not do so). Although that sounds pretty gross to me, perhaps that’s why the OP is confusing them?
Waldorf is a salad, served as a salad course or a side dish. Ambrosia’s a dessert. In my experience, it’s got whipped cream, sweetened shredded coconut, and perhaps mini-marshmallows in it along with various fruit, especially canned things like crushed pineapple and mandarin orange segments; all are arranged in layers in a trifle dish. I’ve never made it myself, but occasionally relatives bring it to family gatherings.
Hmm. Mum had a recipe for ambrosia that was sliced oranges, sliced bananas, shredded coconut, and honey. Basically a layer of each fruit with the honey and coconut in between, repeated a couple of times. No marshmallow or exotic fruits involved. I wonder if it’s a parallel evolution.
I’ve heard ambrosia salad or ambrosia fruit salad. I just had it for the first time this Thanksgiving.
Ever since I was a little kid, Watergate Salad has been a staple at our holiday meals. It’s a container of Cool Whip, a box of Jell-O pistachio pudding mix, a small can of crushed pineapple and mini marshmallows all mixed together. I know it doesn’t sound very appetizing, but it just isn’t a Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner without it.
I agree with the Watergate salad tradition. Make sure it’s the 20 oz. can of shredded pineapple, and don’t drain it. Chill overnight if possible before serving. You can’t evoke childhood Christmases better without applying current directly to the brain. Just the sound it makes as a spoon cuts into it makes me think of my Nana (sniff) 