Mom’s Investment Salad (aka Ambrosia Salad)

Would you eat ambrosia salad as a side dish or dessert? I usually have it on the side of my holiday plate! It can be made any flavor using your gelatin flavor of preference.

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Growing up, you assume that what your family does everyone else’s does as well. So whenever my mom would make what she called “Investment Salad” (usually around the holidays such as Easter) I thought that was what everyone else called it.

I believed that until no one knew what I was talking about and discovered that there wasn’t a single “Investment Salad” recipe on the internet. Either my mom came up with unique recipe or she renamed a pre-existing one, which knowing my mother could be either.

Instead of taking the easy route and just asking her, I decided to search for recipes with similar ingredients. At first I came upon something called “Heavenly Hash”, but upon further investigation this usually involves chocolate and is served in squares, which is not it. So I dug some more and came upon “Ambrosia Salad” or “Watergate Salad” if it’s green (which my brother claims is the proper color for our mom’s version, too).

Turns out that it’s ingredients are loosely defined and my mom’s recipe fits the list of possibilities (as described in Brown Eyed Baker‘s family debate on the subject). After talking to my dad he said he never makes my mom’s recipe with marshmallows while both my brother’s and my copy call for marshmallows, so whatever mood you are in I guess!

As for the name? I finally did ask my mom and she said she had no idea – hahahaha. Her recipe also had your typical vague measurements such as “a large cool whip”, “a medium can of crushed pineapple”, that it serves “lots”, and directions that originally just said “mix well, put in fridge, and enjoy”. Does your family have their own version of ambrosia salad? Or do you have another name for it like mine?

To keep you up to date, here’s the Easter Menu that includes this recipe:

• Apricot-Honey Glazed Ham
• Black Pepper Parmesan Biscuits
• Creamy Spring Peas
• Herb-Roasted Carrots & Parsnips
• Smashed Potatoes with Lemon Aioli
• Carrot Top Pesto
• Mom’s Investment Salad (aka Ambrosia Salad)
• Raspberry Almond Streusel Pie with Allspice Whipped Cream

Easy Easter Side Dish Recipes

• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes from Jen Around the World
• Colorful Spring Salad from Art of Natural Living
• Creamed Greens Casserole from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Hash Brown Casserole from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Japanese Potato Salad with Yukon Gold Potatoes from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Romano Beans Stir Fry from Magical Ingredients
• Sweet Potatoes with Lemon from That Recipe

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One year ago: Sheet Pan Bacon Wrapped Mustard Chicken with Broccoli and Potatoes

One year ago: Sheet Pan Bacon Wrapped Mustard Chicken with Broccoli and Potatoes

Three years ago: Baked Pizza Hummus

Five years ago: Rainbow-Surprise Lemon Cake

Six years ago: Baked Eggs with Crispy Hash Brown Crust

Seven years ago: Cheesy Cat Treats

Eight years ago: Funfetti Cake Batter Smoothie

MOM'S INVESTMENT SALAD (AKA AMBROSIA SALAD)

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Yield: 12 Servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) tub of frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (3 oz.) box preferred flavored of dry gelatin mix
• 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
• 1 (14 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 (10 oz.) bag miniature marshmallows (optional)
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, fold together the whipped topping, milk, gelatin, and sour cream (if using). Add the pineapple, marshmallows (if using), and pecans (if using). Cover and place in the fridge until ready to enjoy!

Source: My mom (said it’s from when she worked at Social Security in the 1970s)

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