Testing VIRAL RECIPES off INSTAGRAM & TIKTOK... what's ACTUALLY good?

[@sharijackson6149]

We make ambrosia salad but with pistachio pudding, cool whip, pinnaple, and marshmallow (also optional nuts).

[@CrystalFier]

Yep, we've always made it that way, but no nuts & we add cherries😋😋😋

[@stephb9147]

This is how we make it too! I have never seen this recipe!

[@amya8316]

Same!

[@dobetterwithchristian4472]

My sister's family makes it like this as well.

[@tess5564]

This is how my grandma makes it too.

[@angiec782]

I feel like the candy cane could be made savory with like a pizza type vibe. With tomato sauce, pepperoni, and cheese.

[@janetshepherd7872]

This is an amazing idea! ❤

[@lowema38]

That’s what I thought it was based on the thumbnail! I’m definitely going to try out this savoury version

[@Von582]

This version I would try, not a fan of the original idea.

[@vickicebulla419]

Chris's quiet little, "where are the marshmallows?" just kills me 😂

[@Wingsofscarlet]

Our family makes an Ambrosia salad similar to that for Thanksgiving every year, but I feel like our recipe is a lot less unhinged than that one. It's a tub of Cool Whip (not whipped cream, you need the stability from the Cool Whip), pistachio pudding, roughly 2 cups of mini marshmallows (measure with your heart), a drained can of crushed pineapple and a drained can of fruit cocktail. Mix it all up and that's it. It doesn't really look appealing but I can promise you that it's very good.

[@Becuzidowhatiwant]

I use the same recipe and we don't melt our marshmallows either

[@blondeshort906]

Yes. I need them to redeem it with this version. It is the only way. Whatever they made is an abomination.

[@irencsak]

this is the one I grew up with, can ratios went off of what was available, but yeah

[@kristinkibler7371]

I grew up on pistachio fluff and mandarin fluff (orange jello and canned mandarin oranges in place of pineapple and pistachio pudding)

[@dmjunk469]

That is how we made Ambrosia salad. My grandparents always made it. BTW Rachel, we live just down the 401. It’s not just in the Midwest.

[@hersheysforever]

Grew up in Minnesota and jell-O salads are definitely a thing for the holidays 😂 families def have their own special recipes!

[@lacsuttle]

Lime Slime was my family’s classic 🤢 lol

[@suzannagoodin7604]

Watergate salad is far superior!

[@ThatBetchEllie]

Yea I grew up in Indiana and we always had them too

[@kathrynlarsen3683]

@@lacsuttle Orange jello with shredded celery and carrot, don't ask I didn't eat it.

[@kelqueen9998]

Minnesotan here too! We had a version of this salad that was pears instead of pineapple. I wish I could find the recipe.

[@AliciaLynn2]

I’m from WV and we call the “green fluff” Watergate salad. We however do not put mayonnaise or sprite in ours and the mini marshmallows aren’t melted down. You just combine the pistachio pudding mix, pineapple, maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, walnuts, and cool whip together, chill in fridge and serve. Growing up I always steered clear of it because it just didn’t look appealing to me but later in adulthood I finally tried it and it’s amazing, you’d be surprised at how good it is. Since you can’t have it Rach you could sub out the pistachio pudding for cherry pudding which we have done before, very good as well and for the crunch add crushed up pretzels to your serving right before eating to avoid becoming soggy.

[@mommabird2813]

Came here to say that

[@deedeeiam]

Also from WV and immediately thought it was Fluff until the mayo came out. lmao

[@nikamarieee7]

Hello fellow West Virginian 👋🏼

[@AliciaLynn2]

@@nikamarieee7 hey hey

[@bryciebee9651]

My family calls it Martian Salad, because that is what my dad called it as a kid since it was green. We just use Cool Whip, crushed pineapple that has been drained, cottage cheese, and pistachio pudding mix. Over the years we tried different flavors, using Jello packs instead of pudding. Pudding has the best texture, but raspberry Jello is our favorite flavor.

[@statisticallybl]

I love how if you don't regularly watch Rachel's videos, you may be confused after hearing "it's been at Lo's" (17:38) and will think " why was she keeping Chris' gift at Lowe's?" 😆

[@amarple424]

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard! The look of the jello when it plopped on the plate and your look of disgust was hysterical.

[@haygrl6272]

Can Confirm, as someone from Missouri. I feel like a lot of families have their own version of a Green Stuff, Pink Stuff, Frog eye salad or Ambrosia Salad. My family's version is with cool whip mixed with strawberry jello powder, mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks. so a little less cursed

[@aprilf509]

Tennessee here. Husband's family does the pink stuff. My family didn't do any of it and I don't like it haha

[@ChurchladyHmm]

My mom would poison us with pink or green. It would be jello, cottage cheese, fruit cocktail, walnuts and cool whip. My poor father pretended to love it, which just forced her to make both kinds😅 edit: rural michigan was the start of it all

[@BreezyRenee333]

That was my family's version too!! I was obsessed with pink stuff lol, but we also added cottage cheese to it. -A Michigander

[@megsval]

Orange stuff for us haha - cool whip, cottage cheese, orange jello mix and mandarin oranges

[@katiehenry7]

20:25...your hot water melted it. Also, its not just midwestern.

[@MeShellyShellShell]

Here in Florida, my grandma would make fruit fluff. Cool whip, small box of vanilla pudding instant mix, drained canned mandarin oranges, drained crushed pineapple, halved grapes, mini marshmallow (not melted). So good!

[@amandamelendy1989]

My Grandma used to make a salad with lime Jello, cream cheese, crushed pineapple and pecans. My mom now makes it for the holidays every year.

[@maggiecrawford2088]

Saskatchewanian here!! My grandma absolutely made ambrosia salad! It's so nostalgic because it was a DINNER item and not a dessert!! I remember thinking it was so wild to have jello with oranges and coconut (that's how she made it) with my Christmas dinner!!

[@hfrisch007]

I use 2 small boxes of orange jello 1 large can 15 oz mandarin oranges and two large containers of cool whip of equivalent of whipped cream , mixed it together and yum

[@Dreaminvader420]

We do 5 cup salad. About a cup each of canned mandarins, canned pineapples, sweetened coconut, sour cream, and mini marshmallows. Kids always got the job of making it. Gets better after a few hours in the fridge!

[@katiehenry7]

Yes! This is my most favorite thing EVER! YUM!

[@ankitabhargava3708]

Hi Rachel, love your videos and amazing techniques!! Could you please make a video on the best pots and pans that you and Chris enjoy!! I know you guys have some applicances and a lot of gadgets but which brand of pots and pans are the best for all of Chris’s epic cooking!

[@RouteACG]

My mom always made "pink salad" which was cottage cheese, crushed pineapple, and strawberry jello mixed together. I didn't really like any of the ingredients on their own, but there was something about mixing them together... #Midwesterner

[@Naedlj]

This is so similar to what I make! But my family adds finely chopped pecans and cool whip! It’s one of my faves! I’m from the southeast and didn’t realize it was a midwestern thing!

[@RouteACG]

@Naedlj i actually forgot about the coolwhip!

[@jennifertucker4042]

My mom did that. We called the “green stuff”. I honestly don’t know the flavor of the jello 😂

[@BreezyRenee333]

This was my family's pink salad too, but we also added whipped cream!

[@denisep3306]

My favorite is pink stuff because you can’t go wrong with cherry pie filling, sweetened condensed milk, drained pineapple, and Cool Whip ❤❤❤

[@barbiesorensen4376]

That salad reminds me so much of the Watergate Salad that we make for the Holidays. Watergate uses Pistachio Pudding, canned Pineapple, mini marshmallows (not melted), nuts and Cool Whip. It’s good but VERY sweet, a little bit goes a long way. That concoction that was made…was interesting. 😅

[@loridahlin730]

Sounds odd but grape salad is always a hit at Christmas. Red and green grapes mixed with cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla and sugar mixture. Sprinkle with brown sugar and toasted pecans.

[@brinncognito]

We made “fancy grapes” one year for new years that were a lot like this! We coated red seedless grapes with cream cheese and rolled them in toasted pecans. It’s a lot of finicky work but they’re great.

[@janataylor5520]

The cafeteria at my work makes this! Had some today!

[@em94glover]

Rachel discovering Watergate salad is the highlight of my year.

[@marilynjones9154]

So the jello salad sliced, and served in a salad plate on a leaf of lettuce. More than once. Fancy older southern ladies love it!

[@Crystalini1984]

I make the overnight French toast bake every single year for Christmas morning. It is really good but so sweet!

[@kimleeming6668]

When you said 180° oven temp I immediately thought Celsius?? So I’m not surprised the pastry wasn’t baking 😅

[@kelson63100]

I was laughing through the Jello segment….it was the commentary that did me in! “I feel so uncomfortable right now “ 😂🤣😂

[@staceynoffke]

In Wisconsin, we always have Orange Fluff. Mix 3 oz. of orange gelatin powder with 8 oz. whipped topping (Cool Whip). Then fold in 16 oz. of cottage cheese, a 14 oz. can of drained, mandarin oranges, and a cup of mini marshmallows. Chill for an hour.

[@TruthandJustice_]

Love ambrosia salad made with pistachio pudding, whipped topping, marshmallows, & minced pineapple.

[@brandypettit]

LOL I love the cut to tomorrow, then back and the "well hopefully that went ok..." thank you for testing these things for us, I love the candy cane idea and can see that going over really well with my family too!

[@EmilySusan61685]

Say no more, Rachel is here to improve my day once again. Thanks girl, I appreciate you so much

[@colleens.3350]

Did anyone else think up to this point that Chris ran a t-shirt printing business? He has on a different cool t-shirt every video, so in my head I decided that he owned that type of company! 🤣The cherry candy cane looks amazing - I am going to try that one😍

[@CrystalFier]

Ambrosia salad is DELISH!!! And absolutely a Midwest staple.

[@melissaweyrick5311]

I like the pistachio pudding version more No mayo.

[@jnbornlost]

I grew up in the South and even we have a jell-o/pudding style salad. I even came across variants of it when I traveled all across the US. Though, none I ventured to taste featured mayo (thank God).

[@Naedlj]

I’m from Georgia and we make a very similar Ambrosia salad. 1 can crushed pineapple in juice 2 packs of strawberry jello - Bring to a simmer -Allow to cool until almost room temp Add 16 oz (or more) of cottage cheese Add 8 oz of Cool Whip (Optional) add a cup (or more) or finely chopped pecans Put in the fridge for at least 8 hrs It is a holiday favorite in our family! We also do 1 pack of lemon jello and 1 pack of lime jello instead of the strawberry sometimes… depends on my mood and what the store has (lemon jello is sometimes oddly difficult to find in my local grocery stores).

[@eowensby34]

I would love for you to show us how Chris makes his oven baked French toast please!

[@kjwilliams1031]

Growing up in NY, we made ambrosia salad different, sour cream, shredded coconut, marshmallow and drained fruit salad.

[@Kogobean]

my mom makes ambrosia salad with sour cream, pineapple pieces, mandarin oranges and marshmallows. it's really good! though she doesn't put it in a mold she just mixes it in a bowl and definitely doesn't melt the marshmallows.

[@randomfelines]

No Mayo, needs more marshmallows. And (heaven save the Midwest)...it's "salad" 😂

[@BeckyA59]

My husband drives me crazy with his contentious that potato salad, macaroni salad etc count as vegetables because they're "salad" 🙄

[@Lelizor]

@@BeckyA59 That's a little worrisome. 😅 Mind you, there is celery in them... so... hahaha

[@dorianmeyette8560]

Definitely make it with pistachio pudding mix and skip the mayo. Yummy

[@dreuzelfan]

The last 23 minutes have made my day. Sick as a dog but an episode of Rachel testing recipes, chef kiss! I might try the candy cane too, looked really good. The jello salad, no thank you xD What do they call this a salad to begin with? As a Belgian I am sometimes amazed by some recipes.

[@erikaleigh86]

People call it by probably 20 different names but the most common is ambrosia or watergate salads

[@dayL660]

Can you do a video on slow cooker or rice cooker recipes? Or no bake recipes?

[@tasahk]

Minnesota native, that green thing is for sure rage bait. There is jello salad but it doesn't have cream cheese, or for the love of God, mayo. It's just jello, coolwhip and fruit and sometimes marshmallows. I don't eat that either, that's already weird enough.

[@tonidale5274]

My mom used to make the green jello with cream cheese,coolwhip, and diced pears. I actually loved it.

[@JPiplup77]

We make Christmas Salad (because green and red) that was renamed Holiday Salad since it was mandatory at all holidays. LOL Sounds weird but I LOVE it so much! Obviously you can just skip the nuts. My recipe is very cherry forward since I feel like you can’t have too many. 😅 - 6oz box lime jello - 2 cups sour cream - 16oz can crushed pineapple, drained - 3/4 to 1 cup chopped pecans - 1.5 16oz jars maraschino cherries - 1 cup boiling water Mix jello and boiling water until dissolved. Let stand in fridge about 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to avoid a film on top or at the bottom of the bowl. Add in sour cream and mix well. Whisk if needed. Add in pineapple, pecans, and cherries. Chill until solidified.

[@somewherenorth4092]

I saw a Boursin based dip today that looked pretty tasty. Spread the Boursin on a serving plate. Your Top with a layer of fig jam, and sprinkle with crispy bacon pieces and toasted pecans.

[@jordansjoys]

We do a cranberry jello salad for Thanksgiving. It’s orange jello with blended cranberries, chopped apples, cut grapes. Nuts optional. Probably some other stuff but it’s DELICIOUS!! I personally do notttt like the ambrosia salads with marshmallows but they are POPULAR

[@shelby3625]

I grew up in Saskatchewan and now live in Manitoba and we make the 7-up salad for Christmas every year! Definitely a thing in Canada on the prairies. The second you pulled out the lime Jello I was so excited for you two!! Ambrosia is another one that we make every year. Our ambrosia is pineapple, mandarin oranges, pasta or rice, cool whip, cream cheese, pudding. So delicious!

[@ErikaB88]

Orange jello, cottage cheese, cool whip & crushed pineapple is our family mix! Not sure I could get on the mayo train! 😵‍💫

[@bryciebee9651]

My family does basically the same, but we originally used pistachio pudding. We tried orange once, but we have found that our favorite is raspberry flavor.

[@mckaileetippetts6993]

for our ambrosia salad, you just mix pistachio pudding powder with pineapple juice, and cool whip, and then you add in pineapple chunks, pomegranate seeds, and mini marshmallows lol

[@kelsey713]

Pink dessert, 1 jar maraschino cherries, 1 block cream cheese, 1 tub whipped cream, 1 can crushed pineapple, 1-2 cups mini marshmallows, crushed walnuts if wanted. The recipe has changed a bit over the years. But it's what we do at our home.

[@hailiemoo5]

I’d love to hear more about your budgeting tips!

[@paulawitte1536]

You can find at least 2 flavors of ambrosia (usually ‘green’ and ‘red’) in nearly every grocery store in the Midwest in the deli department. Usually the jello is chunky though, and there are little marshmallows and coconut.

[@GaaraLover1792]

I'm not a fan of ambrosia salad, but I love Pink Salad. I do mine a little weird though, I use a packet of strawberry jello, a tub of cool whip(softened), maraschino cherries, pineapple tidbits, mandarins, and the rainbow colored marshmallows because fun. It's generally done with cherry pie filling, not jello, but the jello dust keeps it really light and fluffy. I make it every year for the holidays.

[@jamjenABC]

My Favorites are Date Squares, Surprize cookies, Fry Pan Cookies and Peanut Butter balls. All Classics that my Nan used to make. So I make them now! Merry Christmas from New Brunswick

[@lindsyehagens1373]

I’m in south Texas. My aunt when I was a kid always made a molded opaque green jello similar to that one. I wasn’t a big fan. My in-laws make pink stuff or green stuff where you mix the powdered jello with cottage cheese, cool whip, marshmallows, and fruits. I love that! I love pink stuff with cherry jello and strawberries.

[@shannonfry6410]

My family always has "Hawaiian Salad". It's a pistachio OR citrusy jello fluff made with marshmallows and whipped cream. Christopher was spot on with the coconut shavings. So it's coconut shavings, whole mini marshmallows, canned mandarin oranges, pineapple, and the candied cherries. Allllllll mixed together and it's actually an AMAZING light dessert.

[@erikarankin3422]

Watergate salad!! Cool whip, marshmallows, canned shredded and chunk pineapple, can of mandarin oranges and pistachio pudding mix. Just mix it all together and let it set up in the fridge, maybe 2 hrs. Staple in my family

[@TheLuminousstarlight]

Rachel, at the end of your video when you and Chris are trying the weird green salad what kind of eye shadow are you wearing?? It's SOOO pretty 😍 and I NEED it 😂 love your videos 😘

[@Dcong16]

My family would have southern style ambrosia salad sometimes at big summer parties growing up. No jello involved, I think it was usually cool whip, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, canned pineapple, and canned mandarin oranges all mixed together. Way better textured imo! As for holiday traditions my grandmother would always make anisette cookies and my mom would make two breakfast bakes you put together the night before - one was French toast like you mentioned and the other was sausage egg and cheese. I still make them both myself!

[@jtomas4850]

I’m from STL and we always have Cranberry Fluff Salad: Cool whip, crushed pineapple, cranberries, cream cheese, pecans, sugar, and sometimes mini marshmallows.

[@Rachelle_Creates]

The candy cane dessert looks delicious! My mom makes Potato chips cookies, they are delicious sweet and salty! The best!

[@kylieeliz]

I like Jell-o salad/green fluff. Lime Jell-o, cool whip, sour cream, marshmallows, crushed pineapple, and coconut flakes. You can add cottage cheese, too. I quite like it! I've seen variations with more fruit or nuts, but I've got a nut allergy : ) I enjoy how textured it is. I sometimes freeze it so it'll keep longer and let it thaw as needed.

[@angelcundiff7149]

My grandmother (from east TN) always made the jello dish year round. Ours was jello, pineapple, water/pineapple juice (instead of Sprite), cottage cheese and mayo. Living in CA I made it for friends during a Thanksgiving get together and yes it was met with great skepticism but being the wonderful people they are they at least tried it. And all agreed that it was much better than expected

[@conifercrow]

I grew up in rural Nebraska (the middle of the midwest, really), and I distinctly remember this salad, sans the mayo. Every church function, funeral, and family reunion. There's also a version with orange jello, mandarin orange slices, and some kind of Miracle Whip thing on the top that was sort of ubiquitous. (Some people put shredded carrots in that one; my mom did not, thankfully. The texture nightmare haunts me to this day.). :D

[@ashattack1021]

Your ambrosia thing reminds me of a much more involved Watergate Salad. It's instant pistachio pudding, crushed pineapples, mini marshmallows, cool whip, and (optional) pecans. No heating, no melting the mallows, no mayo(?) (still unsure what that was for), and no cream cheese. It's literally dump in the ingredients, mix, and refrigerate. Delicious.

[@ashleystatema7342]

Rachel you have to do a Minnesota Salad video! Where everything you make is from that Midwestern mom’s salads folder!!

[@MemeMary926]

Fruit salad- jello mix(raspberry of course, but you can use any flavor) cool whip, and fruit cocktail.

[@ashleys4652]

Make Watergate Salad aka Pistachio Pudding. It's instant pistachio pudding, mini marshmallows, crushed pineapple, and Cool Whip. It's delicious. Add maraschino cherries for that red and green Christmas theme or some sprinkles on top.

[@marthagiegling7969]

I grew up with that salad. I’m from the Midwest. No mayo and coconut. I truly enjoy your videos.❤

[@Valg5]

I'm with Chris on this. I visited family in South Dakota in the summers and remember the way he is LOL. Denifanty needs shredded coconut and free-floating marshmallows.

[@kelsiepecarskie7158]

The best “salad” is a tub of cottage cheese. Mix with peach and orange jello powder (just the powder) then add in drained mandarin pieces and pineapple tidbits. Then fold in a tub of cool whip! It is so good! That’s the Ottawa Valley salad of Christmas! The Ottawa valley is basically the same as the Midwest hahaha

[@aas061189]

My family calls that the Green stuff! We live in Florida, but my grandparents are from Pennsylvania. My grandma made it differently. She uses pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, cool whip, cottage cheese, walnuts, and maraschino cherries! She would make it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. One year, she felt like everyone got bored of it and didn't make it. Everyone was upset by that, so one of my aunts decided to make it, and she has been the person who has made it ever since! It is just not the holidays without the Green Stuff! ❤

[@drgngrl13]

You should try Kugel. My grandma would always make the sweet version for family get togethers, and it’s very easy to tweak for family preferences.

[@Uhm.an.duh.G]

My family makes a green jello “salad” that is lime jello, mini marshmallows (not melted), cool whip, cottage cheese, pineapple. I’m sure I’m missing something else but I LOVE it so much. My husband and my sister in law refuse to eat it but my family is obsessed.

[@raeperonneau4941]

Rachel, Ambrosia salad may have begun in the MidWest but it migrated far and wide. 😂 My folks are from NY, and I grew up in CA, and this “salad” was served at every family gathering. I believe there is a 70’s connection to the original recipe …which most of us have never seen. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Like Poutine, every family has their own riff on it, and the odds are, that you make it the way your Mom did. ❤

[@MrsLeBlanc14]

I love the fact that no matter what most ocean spray cranberry sauce has the label upside down on the can 😂 Not sure how true this is in the US but in Canada, I see it a lot

[@TheonlyMamaD]

My son looks up why every year...for some reason we never remember why! If we get any it drives us both nuts'n bolts to put in the cupboard with any other can! IT'S JUST WRONG! It isn't just Ocean Spray either! (We are in good old Western Canada)

[@oceanspray]

Fun fact: our upside-down labels are no accident! They're made so that when you flip the can open upside down, you'll see a right-side up label and get a satisfyingly smooth slide-out.

[@75JayLady]

My mother in law makes this version: 1 cup crushed pineapple (drained with juice reserved) 1 cup water 2 packages lime jello (3 oz each) 1 cup mayo 1 cup evaporated milk (canned) 1 cup small curd cottage cheese 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped) It looks and sounds crazy, but it actually tastes pretty good, I know so unhinged, but this is an old recipe. The candy cane pastry looks so good!!!! Def need to make that!

[@maryjames687]

One tub of cool whip 16 oz, one can of cherry pie filling, one can crushed pineapple mix chill and serve. Called cherry fluff also one can condensed milk

[@KathrynWardd]

So everyone is telling you about the ambrosia salad (pistachio pudding, cool whip, crushed pineapple, and marshmallows - none of it melted down lol); but my family does a different take. We replace the pistachio pudding with a red jello (typically raspberry - so raspberry jello mix, cool whip, marshmallows, and crushed pineapple) and mix it all together and its called "pink fluff". Its way too sweet but a thanksgiving/christmas staple! love it!

[@l.j4496]

We mix evaporated milk, jellie cherries marshmallows and pineapples and put that in a tart shell or a crepe . Soooo sweet but really yummy

[@laurakurish3034]

Thanks for the great video Rach, you make me feel like we are all "human" and make mistakes...lol I love both of your channels 🥰😇

[@ThrivingWithMeg]

I make a jello salad similar to that in the summer. It is just lime jello, sour cream and pineapple (I use the bigger pieces and chop them down a little bit).

[@demibailey7019]

Rachel please try the ambrosia salad the right way I really think you’ll like it Christopher is right it normally has coconut and nuts etc but not in that mold and no mayo but use cool whip

[@mrsbewhitetiger]

Cherry pie filling. Cool whip. Crushed pineapple. One of my favorites lol

[@amyarbogast6779]

We make a cranberry fluff (Kansas) and it’s 1 package dream whip (you can use cool whip but the texture isn’t as good) 2 cups fresh cranberries heavily chopped 3/4 cup of sugar 1/2 cup seedless grapes halved 2 cups mini marshmallows 2 cups apples 1/2 cup nuts (optional) Chop the cranberries and add the sugar to them and let it sit for 20 minutes. You mix the dream whip according to the package instructions. Add all the ingredients together and stir. It sounds insane but it’s so good!! It’s got good texture from the apples and marshmallows, tartness from the cherries and sweetness from the grapes and marshmallows. Please try it! The green salad is the WORST in my opinion of all the weird Midwest salads.

[@susannereri9249]

Why... why... WHY 1. Do it 2. Call it a salad ??? 😂😂 The sound that "mixture" made while it got poured into the bowl... I just can't 😂😂😂😂😂

[@celestegross6622]

We did ambrosia with canned pineapple, maraschino cherries, canned mandarin oranges, sweetened shredded coconut, cool whip, & either mayo (mom’s fav) or sour cream (my fav). Looked nasty but I loved it!

[@karikelly2797]

Yes. Ambrosia or watergate salad appears at almost every pitch-in type meal. There’s a red version of this salad that I’ve seen occasionally, too. Chris is right…Walnuts (or pumpkin seeds), coconut, go in this salad and the marshmallows are left whole. Cool whip and cream cheese are mandatory, but the mayo must be a retro ingredient. Some people make the green jello plain and then cube the jello before they mix it into the whipped cream/cream cheese dressing so that the whole thing is kind of fork edible. The squares of jello, the nuts and the coconut add texture. You have to strain the pineapple so that it is dry or use the canned juice in place of sprite. Not something I would ever make or bring to a gathering, but somebody always makes it.

[@karmakauffman7445]

The ambrosia salad looks pretty similar to what I grew up with in Kansas. We had one salad that was pistachio pudding with marshmallows, nuts, pineapple, and Cool Whip. We had another one that was lime Jello, cottage cheese, crushed pineapple, and nuts. The Midwest has all kinds of crazy salads! A lot of times those ‘salads’ look a LOT like a dessert! 😂

[@bevjohnson1004]

We make a green salad with green jello, crushed pineapple, cool whip and cottage cheese. Been eating it for over 45 years.

[@katlynskorner]

The plop heard round the world. I can’t 😂😂😂

[@lowema38]

I got really excited because I thought the thumbnail was showing the candy cane pastry to be filled with pizza sauce and cheese, however it turned out to be sweet… maybe I’ll try it my way instead, since I’m more of a savoury gal

[@maggiemae3825]

When you were making the ambrosia salad, the whole time I was like, "She's doin' it kind of weird..." But then my roommate came for you and I was like "SHE'S CANADIAN, YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!" But then when Chris was testing it, his critiques were absolutely spot on! So... I don't know how to explain that other than Chris really *gets us* as Americans. Btw, I'm in the Seattle area and poutine has DEFINITELY made its way down South. Are you surprised though? Of course Americans love a dish that's cheese and potatoes and gravy!!

[@rachelallen4810]

We make what we call "jello salad" and it's orange jello made with pineapple juice, crushed pineapple, a container of cool whip...and shredded yellow American cheese. It's delicious and nostalgic.

[@bryciebee9651]

My family makes a form of the Ambrosia Salad for holidays, but we make it differently and call it Martian Salad. My dad called it that as a kid because it was green and that is just what we continue to call it. We mix a tub of Cool Whip, a can of crushed pineapple that has been drained, a container of cottage cheese, and a package of Jello or Jello pudding mix. The original one was pistachio pudding flavor, but over the years we have tried different flavors. We have found that we like raspberry the most, but lime was a big hit at a pot luck once. Fruity Jello has a brighter flavor with many flavor options, but pudding mix gives it a creamier and fluffier texture.

[@jessicalogsdon4992]

we have a green fluff but its just lime jello, crushed pineapple and cool whip. its so good on ham!!

[@SPW1031W]

We make cookies that have marichino cherries in the center, and they are delicious. It's one of my all-time favorite cookies. 🥰

[@saraissa4440]

Candy cane crescent try raspberry jam. We make cookie salad. Vanilla pudding, fudge stripe cookies, mandarin oranges cool whip.

[@jenniferforsythe410]

My family makes Waldorf salad with diced apples, halved grapes, chopped pecans, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and cool whip. It looks horrendous, but it tastes awesome!

[@amandaantico78]

Midwestern here, we love our green bean casserole!