Fruity Fluffer

This is one of those “You can take the girl outta Utah, but you can’t take the Utah outta the girl!” recipes. This is in essence a fruit salad, made slightly more “classy” than the original that I have had at many a BBQ over the years. This came about because my son wanted fruit salad (thanks Wiggles) everyday and I ran out of fun ways to make it, then it dawned on me that we hadn’t had this version of my youth! It’s simple and people love it, they may pretend they are too groovy but once you turn your back the bowl will be gone! Keep in mind I did update it a bit, but not much, and this is a fun throw back to a 60’s era recipe that every homemaker had in her arsonal.
So my prep chef Ari and I made a dazzling yet cheesy accompaniment to your next potluck, kids love helping and this recipe is hard to screw up so bring in the offspring on this one.
You will need:
1 small can crushed pineapple, mostly drained, packed in juice (yes canned, it was super classy in 1965)
1 can mandarin oranges, drained, I even found ones packed without sugar!
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, stemmed, you can use fresh if they are in season
1 pint of fresh strawberries, stemmed and quartered, do i need to say washed? Well wash em.
1 apple, cored and medium diced, I like fuji for this.
2 bananas, peeled and sliced.
1/2 lime juiced, and zested
1/4 roasted coconut, you can use shredded from the baking area, that is what the original had, I wanted a less sweet more sophisticated option
1 6 oz cup vanilla yogurt, I used liberte, its totally f-ing dreamy, but you can use non-fat if you are no fun (I joke), I used to eat it with strawberry yoplait and cool whip! Hey go that route I ain’t judging.
1 cup mini marshmallows, yes…just do it…don’t be a hater, get the artificially colored ones (cuz that’s the only kind they have, if you find some that aren’t post me a comment!) that sorta have a citrus flavor, this step is optional, here again, if you are no fun (I don’t joke…LOL)
Method:
You get a bowl and mix everything…if you are fancy add the zest last in a light green, snow a top your pile of fluff. Eat it, and feel the fruit flufferness for yourself…you may never be the same again!