Sunshiny Fruit Salad

This is my go-to fruit salad.

2 cans (20 oz each) pineapple chunks
2 cans (11 oz each) mandarin oranges
1 pkg (3.4 oz) instant lemon pudding
other fruit of your choice, atleast 5 c total (I like to use sliced strawberries, blueberries, apple chunks, and/or halved grapes. Bananas would also work well, but I'm not big on bananas in fruit salad.)

Drain pineapple and oranges, reserving the liquid from one of the pineapple cans. In a sm bowl, combine the pudding mix with the reserved pineapple juice. In a lg bowl, mix together all fruit except oranges. Add pudding/juice mixture and stir. Gently fold in oranges. (Do not mix too much once oranges are in or they will fall apart.) Chill 2 hrs. Makes 10-12 servings.

*Note: The fruit salad will get more liquidy the longer it sits.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

I made a double batch of this for my husband's annual work picnic and came back with an empty bowl!

1 pkg fresh spinach
2 c strawberries, sliced
2 Tbsp butter
salt to taste
8 oz pecan halves
1/4 c light virgin olive oil
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c raspberry vinaigrette dressing
salt to taste

Clean spinach, removing stems. Slice strawberries. Toss pecans with melted butter and salt to taste. Spread on baking sheets in single layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 min or til crisp; cool. Mix dressing ingredients in blender or shaker: oil, sugar, raspberry vinaigrette, and salt. Shake well; assemble salad ingredients, pour and toss dressing on right before serving.

Finger Jello (aka Jello Jigglers)

2 1/2 c boiling water
4 pkg jello (4 servings each)

Mix together, stirring til gelatin is dissolved. Pour into 9x13 pan. (I like to spray the pan lightly with cooking spray first so the jello doesn't stick.) Chill til set. Makes 24 servings.

Rainbow Jello

7 pkg (3 oz each) assorted flavored jello
4 1/2 c boiling water, divided
4 1/2 c cold water, divided
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk, divided

In a bowl, dissolve 1 pkg jello in 3/4 c boiling water. Add 3/4 c cold water; stir. Spoon into a 13x9" dish coated with cooking spray. Refrigerated til amost set, about 40 min. In a bowl, dissolve another pkg of gelatin in 1/2 c boiling water. Add 1/2 c cold water and 1/2 c milk; stir. Spoon over the first layer. Refrigerated til almost set, about 40 min. Repeat 5 times, alternating plain jello with creamy jello, refrigerating between layers. Makes 15-20 servings.