Watergate Salad

Came acrossed this web page through Jamie at http://lifesafeast.blogspot.com/ which took me to; http://domestickmuse.blogspot.com/2009/03/everything-old-is-new-again-and-vintage.html#comment-form .

The sound of a new contest called: "Everything Old Is New Again..." got me thinking of all the old recipes my Granny and I sat around and copied.                                                                    

  So, I got out the little recipe book  I made in honor of my grandmother   

and looked at some of her reipces. How are these for names and which one should I choose? 

Kauai Banana Bread

Pig Licken Cake 

Miracle Cheesecake

Chess Pie

E-Z Good Pie

Soda Cracker Pie

Champagne Salad

Hot Company Cabbage

Millionaire Salad

Nine-Day Cole Slaw

7-Up Salad

and the one I am doing or should I say re-doing is: 'Watergate Salad'.

Most of these recipes are from the late 60's and 70's.

Wanted to find out how this salad got it's name, so I googled it and found this web site:

http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodsalads.html#watergatesalad.  Interesting reading.

I thought it would be a kick to bring this recipe back out, as I have not had it since the 80's and as I bought the ingredients, I laughed at the recipe on the back of the 'Dole' pineapple can. Yep, there it was the Watergate Salad recipe! So, I guess it's not so out-of-date, but I am entering it because I would like my children to try it and see what they think.

How I changed the recipe just a bit:

 'Watergate Salad'

Drain a can of 20-ounce size can of crushed pineapple and save the juice.

Start whipping up: 1 cup heavy whip cream, whip up until almost stiff, can add 1-2 tablespoons powered sugar. (Although it doesn't need the extra sugar.)

Add to this: 1 package (4-serving size) pistachio instant pudding.

Fold in the pineapple and start adding at least 1/2 cup of pineapple juice, to make sure pudding is not too thick.

Fold in 1 cup mini marshmallows and 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Mix this until well blended.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour and serve.

The orginal recipe from Granny's book:

 Watergate Salad

1 package (4-serving size) pistachio instant pudding (today's pudding mix has almonds, what no pistachios?)

1 carton thawed non-diary whipped topping (8 ounces)

1 can crushed pineapple, it said medium size which is the 20 ounce size with juice

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup nuts

Mix dry pudding with whipped cream. Add pineapple and juice, marshmalllows and nuts. Chill at least 1 hour and serve.

Yeah, the kiddos like it!!!!