topic Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad in Recipes

Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

qualitygal — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 10:36:26 GMT

I'm planning to do both of these, then reading through ingredients, seems mighty close on ingredients. So my question is does this salad have two names or can we do both? I may drop one and search for another. I'm a little undecided on this one. What do you think?

I'm really in a quandry.......

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

KingstonsMom — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 14:51:03 GMT

Most ambrosia salad recipes use whipped topping added in, whereas Watergate salad uses pistachio pudding.

They do taste pretty similar.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Dusty1 — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 16:13:09 GMT

They are both light, fluffy desserts. Ambrosia more fruity & has the coconut for crunch. Watergate is less fruity, but has the slighly nutty taste of the pistachio. And, marshmallows in both in case someone thinks they are actually "salads". LOL I love them both.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Lana — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:14:33 GMT

We make Watergate salad in our family, a must!!! Be sure to use the colored mini marshmallows rather then plain white ones, so much more festive. The Ambosia is not as good as the Watergate .

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Nightowlz — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 19:18:38 GMT

We like both. They both have cool whip or homemade whip in it, nuts & pineapple. I like to put granny smith apples & some red apples cut up in the Ambrosia salad with pineapple & mandarin oranges for Christmas.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

qualitygal — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:46:29 GMT

Thanks, I'll do one and then my husband thinks I need to do potatoes. Nope, not with the other things I'm doing. But I did find a couple of other things I may do instead. But I do appreciate the comments. It helps.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Jerri E — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 22:31:47 GMT

I have made watergate many times as my son loves it. Recently I made the ambrosia salad that has been here on the boards the past few weeks. It included sour cream and cheesecake pudding. Loved it. You might check that recipe out.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

doglover3 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:47:24 GMT

Watergate Salad

1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained

1 box instant Pistachio pudding

1 c mini marshmallows

1/2 c chopped pecans

1 1/2 c cool whip

Combine the 1st 4 ingredients, mix in cool whip.

for festive Christmas salad add 1/2 c dried cranberries. If you want in lieu of cool whip- 2c whipping cream whipped.

I use two boxes of the pudding, it gives it more flavor!! That’s just my family though, some may find it too strong a flavor?susielong

an oldie but a goodie

Pistachio Fruit Salad, LilBitMissty

1 box Pistachio Pudding mix

1 (14 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice

1 (11 ounce) can Mandarin Oranges...DRAINED

1/4 TO 1/2 cup pecans...chopped

1 small container sour cream

1 small tub cool whip, 8 ounces

2 cups mini marshmallows

1/4 cup Toasted coconut

Gradually stir together all ingredients except nuts .Pour into serving bowl. Sprinkle the chopped nuts over the top. Chill.

Summer Salad CACTUS FLOWER

1 can (20 oz.) pineapple chunks
1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges
1 banana sliced
1 1/2 cups seedless grapes
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup coconut
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1 carton 8 oz. vanilla yogurt

Ambrosia Salad posted by nightowlz

2 c cool whip

1 c sour cream

1 c chopped pecans

3 apples (I use gala & green apple)

1 20 oz can pineapple tidbits drained

1 11 oz can mandarin oranges drained

2 c sweetened flaked coconut

2 c mini marshmallows

Combine cool whip & sour cream,

fold in remaining ingredients.

Refrigerate 2 hrs.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

doglover3 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:53:42 GMT

this one is our favorite, not exactly what you are looking for but it is a wonderful dessert and something I usually take to get togethers

Strawberry Delight

6 -ounce box strawberry jello

12-ounce box frozen strawberries partially thawed ( don't use fresh )

10-inch store bought angel-food cake(can make your own of course), broken into small pieces

8-ounce container cool whip

Mix jello with 2 cups hot water, then add 1 cup cold water, add

strawberries & pour into a 9 x13-inch pan. Refrigerate until partially

jelled. Mix in the pieces of cake. Top with cool whip. Refrigerate for

several hrs. Cut into squares.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

doglover3 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:56:24 GMT

If you want something different than the traditional fruit salad, ambrosia is always a great alternative. This old fashioned dessert recipe for World's Best Ambrosia Salad is a creamy, fruity salad that never fails to impress. With ingredients like pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows, and more, this colorful no bake dessert looks and tastes great alongside any meal. Next time you need an easy Cool Whip recipe or dessert to share, whip together a big bowl of ambrosia! Bellabutterfly

Ingredients

1 (29-ounce) can fruit cocktail, drained
1 (8-ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and rinsed
1 (1-ounce) box cheesecake flavor Sugar Free Jell-O instant pudding
8 ounces sour cream
3 cups Cool Whip
1 cup miniature marshmallows

Instructions

Drain all fruit. If fruit was packed in syrup, rinse in cold water and drain.
Combine fruit cocktail, pineapple, mandarin oranges and cherries in a large bowl. Sprinkle with cheesecake flavored pudding mix and stir to coat. Add in sour cream and Cool Whip and stir well.
Fold in marshmallows and chill for at least one hour before serving.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Jerri E — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 20:28:58 GMT

I made that particular ambrosia recently and it was yummy. Will make it again.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Group 5 minus 1 — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 18:24:38 GMT

I am still looking for an old fashioned recipe for Ambrosia. I always thought it was made w/fresh oranges,coconut and no fluffy anything. I think it is a Southener recipe.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Mothertrucker — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 19:25:15 GMT

My dad was from Texas and his ambrosia was peeled, sliced fresh oranges, on a platter, sprinkled with coconut..that's IT!

once I begged, and he put a few maraschino cherry halves in the center of some of the oranges...LOL!

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

susielong — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 20:35:51 GMT

My mother used to make one using, apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, coconut, raisins, pecan pieces, miniature marshmallows, etc. So pretty much any kind of fruit you might like and then add the extra stuff you want to it. It will be good and is an ambrosia to me. She was from the south too!!

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

qualitygal — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:50:29 GMT

I'm going to use the one salad someone shared with on here with us. It just sounds nice and refreshing to go with the rest of what we're having.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

151949 — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 21:37:00 GMT

My Mom called her ambrosia salad 5 cup salad because it was 1 cup each of 5 ingredients, pineapple chunks, marachino cherries,chopped pecans and sour cream and cool whip. I always also added mandarin oranges.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Honeybit — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 00:34:30 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 This is what I know as "real" Southern Ambrosia, except we always used powdered sugar instead of granulated:

Christmas Ambrosia
My Mother's Southern Desserts: More than 200 Treasured Family Recipes for Holiday and Everyday Celebrations by James Villas with Martha Pearl Villas, 1998, William Morrow and Co., Inc.

“If ever Mother were a purist about her vast repertory of classic Southern desserts, ambrosia would be at the top of the list as one specialty that defies modification in any shape or form. ‘People who add grapefruit, pineapple, grapes, bananas, and Lord knows what else to ambrosia simply don’t under- stand ambrosia,’ she lectures sternly, forever convinced that it’s the simplicity of this subtle combination of orange and coconut traditionally served at Christmas that makes it the perfect foil to fruitcake, elaborate pies, rich cookies, and other aggressive Yuletide treats. I’ve never once known Mother to make ambrosia except at Christmas – served, of course, in one of her finest cut-crystal bowls. Here fresh coconut and orange juice are obligatory.”

6 large oranges
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups grated fresh coconut
1/4 cup fresh orange juice

Peel the oranges, cutting away all the white pith, then carefully remove the orange sections from the membranes that surround them and discard any seeds. Arrange a layer of orange sections in the bottom of a large crystal bowl and sprinkle a little of the sugar and coconut on top. Repeat the layers till the ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of coconut. Drizzle the orange juice over the top, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and chill well before serving in crystal compote dishes. Yield: 6 servings

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 07:40:37 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
I'm planning to do both of these, then reading through ingredients, seems mighty close on ingredients. So my question is does this salad have two names or can we do both? I may drop one and search for another. I'm a little undecided on this one. What do you think?
I'm really in a quandry.......

@qualitygal To me, they are two different things, and really quite different recipes. My understanding is that Ambrosia is the equivalent of Hawaiian Fruit Salad. Here are my recipes for each dish.

WATERGATE SALAD

20 oz. crushed pineapple, with juice

1 c. chopped walnuts

1 c. mini marshmallows

1 sm. pkg. instant pistachio pudding

8 oz. Cool Whip

Mix everything together and refrigerate for several hours.

HAWAIIAN FRUIT SALAD/AMBROSIA
20 oz. Canned Pineapple Chunks OR Tidbits, in their own juice - drained
11 oz. Canned Mandarin Oranges - drained
10 oz. jar Maraschino Cherries - drained
1 c. Mini Marshmallows
1 c. Shredded Coconut
1/2 pt. Sour Cream

Thoroughly drain the fruits. Combine all the ingredients and fold gently so you don't break the mandarin oranges. When everything is well combined, transfer to storage bowl and refrigerate 8 hrs. or overnight. Can be easily increased for crowds.

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Mothertrucker — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 16:28:11 GMT

Saw a lovely variation of the "traditional" ( just sliced oranges and coconut), and that was the addition of colorful pomegranate seeds....like tiny gemstones.....

Re: Ambrosia salad or Watergate salad

Starpolisher — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 05:12:53 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@qualitygal wrote:
I'm planning to do both of these, then reading through ingredients, seems mighty close on ingredients. So my question is does this salad have two names or can we do both? I may drop one and search for another. I'm a little undecided on this one. What do you think?
I'm really in a quandry.......
@qualitygal To me, they are two different things, and really quite different recipes. My understanding is that Ambrosia is the equivalent of Hawaiian Fruit Salad. Here are my recipes for each dish.

WATERGATE SALAD
20 oz. crushed pineapple, with juice
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. mini marshmallows
1 sm. pkg. instant pistachio pudding
8 oz. Cool Whip

Mix everything together and refrigerate for several hours.

HAWAIIAN FRUIT SALAD/AMBROSIA
20 oz. Canned Pineapple Chunks OR Tidbits, in their own juice - drained
11 oz. Canned Mandarin Oranges - drained
10 oz. jar Maraschino Cherries - drained
1 c. Mini Marshmallows
1 c. Shredded Coconut
1/2 pt. Sour Cream

Thoroughly drain the fruits. Combine all the ingredients and fold gently so you don't break the mandarin oranges. When everything is well combined, transfer to storage bowl and refrigerate 8 hrs. or overnight. Can be easily increased for crowds.

I've never had Watergate salad but this is how I make (except I use 1 pint sour cream) and the only way I've ever had Ambrosia. No whipped cream or pudding. I love it but rarely make it due to all the sugar.