Tasty Tuesday-Ambrosia Salad

Every holiday, families make yummy food to share.  People slave over the stoves and ovens for that meal.  One of my favorite traditions is making fruit salad.  This is what I contribute to our meal.  It is the one thing that I can do.  My mom is the one who gave me the recipe.  The funny thing is that every year, I always forget the ingredients and have to call my mom.  Yes, I am in the middle of the aisles, fighting people for the last of the ingredients, and I don't even know if I need what I have in my hand.  But I really do know, it is just part of my process.  So today I am sharing my recipe.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

-red apples
-fruit cocktail
-cool whip
-coconut flakes
-diced walnuts
-condensed milk <- -="" evaporated="" for="" i="" ingredients="" is="" milk.="" mistaken="" nbsp="" normally="" p="" the="" this="">
So the recipe depends on how many people you are serving.  I always make it for the entire family which is at least 12 families.

I use a big tub of the cool whip or you can do 2 small containers.  I normally buy 4 cans of the fruit but this time I went to Sam's and got the big can.  I did 10 small red apples.  I bought 2 cans of the condensed milk but actually only needed 1.  The coconut flakes and walnuts came in the large bags.  They did not have any smaller bags.  You can measure out to your desire of wing it like I always do.  This time I added about half a package of each.  You will need a large bowl, and a big spoon.

Wash and dice your apples.  Add to bowl.

Open can of fruit cocktail.  Drain as much of the juice.  Add to bowl.

Open can of condensed milk.  I added half the can to the bowl.

Then I added the coconut and walnuts to the bowl.  Next you will want to add the cool whip.  I let the cool whip sit out since it was frozen for about 5 minutes before I started prepping.  It will be perfect when you are ready to add to the bowl.  I stir in a spoonful first and start to mix all the ingredients.  Then I add in a spoonful at a time, so not to make a big mess when hand mixing.  Taste it and see if you want to add for condensed milk.  It will make it sweeter.  Sweeten to your liking.  I add the other half of the can when I am mixing the cool whip in. 

Freeze until you are ready to serve.  We normally take it out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator.  This is a family favorite.  You can leave in the bowl and let everyone serve themselves their own portion in small cups or bowls. 

Some people add marshmallows or more cherries, but this is how my family likes it. 

For those that have nut allergy, I normally make a separate batch and keep it in the actual cool whip container.  This way we won't get them mixed up and no one will have an allergic reaction.

Enjoy!

Have you ever made this salad or a version of this salad?  Any tips?