Chunky Applesauce

I learned to make this chunky applesauce from my mother.  She makes a lot of applesauce, many different ways, this is one of them.  She loves Paula Reds, as do I, so that is what I used today.  I also like it with McIntosh.  If you are following mom's recipe, add more sugar than you think it needs, then add a bit more. :)

Chunky Applesauce

apples
sugar

Peel, core, and slice apples, place in a large microwave safe bowl.  Fill to about 2/3 full, then microwave for 8-10 minutes.  Mash it with a large spoon or potato masher until it is mostly mashed, but still has a few chunks in it.  Now you can either sweeten to taste with sugar, or freeze what you don't need right away, and sweeten after you thaw it back out.

Pineapple Fruit Salad

This is my mom's recipe and it is divine!  I like to cut the pineapple chunks in half, but you can also leave them.  You can also add or remove fruit, whatever is in season.

Pineapple Fruit Salad

1 box vanilla pudding mix
1 can pineapple chunks
8 oz tub cool whip
1 can mandarin oranges
2 packages strawberries
2 packages raspberries
1 package blueberries
2 bananas

Drain pineapple juice into measuring cup, retain 1 cup juice.  Mix pineapple juice with pudding mix.  Fold in cool whip.  Reserve some fruit for decoration, then add in drained mandarin oranges, sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and sliced bananas and mix until well coated.  Place decorative fruit on top.

Snickers Salad

This is another fruit "salad" with the quotes because really, this is another that is more of a dessert.  My gramma always made this growing up and it is always delicious.

Snickers Salad

4 large apples
1 tub cool whip
1 bag snickers minis

Core apples and cut into small chunks.  Cut snickers minis into quarters.  Place apples and candy bars in a large bowl and fold in cool whip.  Keep refrigerated.

**You may also add sliced bananas but they do not keep as well (as if there would be any leftover).  I made it with 4 small apples and 2 bananas.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I am not sure why this is called a salad, it tastes more like a dessert, which makes it a GREAT salad :)

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

2 cup pretzels - crushed
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup butter
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 tub cool whip
2 package jello strawberry
2 1/2 cup water - boiling
16 oz strawberries - sweetened - thawed

Melt butter, mix with pretzels, 1/3 cup sugar; press into glass 9x13" pan, bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Mix cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and cool whip with mixer, spread over cooled pretzel layer. Mix jello with boiling water, add strawberries. Cool in fridge until thickened (at least 2 hours), pour over cream cheese layer. Let set in fridge.

Glazed Fruit Salad

 I love fruit salad, especially glazed fruit salad.  I had tried a couple of recipes with pudding mix, but never found one that I liked.  Then my mother-in-law made a fruit salad and I asked for her recipe, and the secret was pie filling!  Wonderful.

Glazed Fruit Salad

21oz peach pie filling
fruit

Cut up fresh fruit into bite sized pieces and stir in pie filling.

For the salad above I used 2 medium apples, 2 mandarin oranges, 1 banana, and a little over a pound of strawberries.  I have made it with grapes before as well, just put in whatever you have in the house.