Grape Salad

I promise from the bottom of my heart that you won't regret making this salad.  I got the recipe from my amazing sister-in-law after a picnic one Saturday.  It was honestly one of those things where I couldn't believe I had lived my life to that point without tasting it!  I'm not even kidding when I say that.  Now wherever I take this salad I get requests for the recipe so I know it's not just me who loves it!

Grape Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs grapes (I do half red and half green)
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Cut grapes in half and place in large bowl.  Beat cream cheese until smooth then mix in sour cream, sugar, vanilla and brown sugar.  Fold in pecans.  (You probably noticed that pecans are optional.  While they aren't essential to the tastiness of this salad, I HIGHLY recommend using them - unless you are terribly allergic or can't stand them of course!  They add this perfect little edge though and are my favorite part of the dish!) Pour sauce over grapes and stir until all are coated evenly.  Voila!

Want to change it up?  Cut up apples are also yummy in this sauce.

Raspberry Yogurt Salad

Recently I came to the conclusion that we would be making a wise investment to install a yogurt pump into our refrigerator.  I'm not even sure if that's a thing but I'm picturing it to be like the soft serve ice cream pumps.  You know what I'm talking about.  We could just go to the Dannon plant that's a couple miles away and stock up on yogurt by the gallons.  Pure brilliance.  This genius dawned on me as I was checking out at the grocery store with my typical 172 ounces of yogurt on board.  That's 14 pounds!  We eat the equivalent of our two dogs put together (one weighs 6 lbs and the other 9 lbs) at least weekly.  I think my 3 kids and I could sustain ourselves on vanilla yogurt and raspberries.  So, needless to say, this delightful salad is a favorite around here!  

Ingredients:

32 oz vanilla yogurt

5.1 oz box instant vanilla pudding

8 oz cool whip

12 oz bag frozen raspberries

Combine and voila!  It's literally that easy.  Give it a try... you'll love it!

Mango Berry Floats

How do you prefer your desserts - with chocolate or fruit?

 

You know, I just turned 30.  3 cheers for me!  (Hip Hip Hooray x3!) And as my 20s came to a close, I found my love of chocolate multiplying by the bajillions.  Is that a sign of aging?  I think it is.  Until recently, I found all the "women+chocolate=true love" quotes kind of weird but I have to admit that now -- I totally get it!  So if it is a sign of aging, it's a good one.  My grandma would be so proud of me.  I swear she loved chocolate more than air!  

 

All that being said, deep deep down, I'm still a fruit girl at heart!  These floats have to be the most refreshing dessert on the planet.  They are light and sweet with just the right amount of zing!  Even my hubby (who is definitely a chocolate/peanut butter guy) had them 3 nights in a row!  Here's how they roll:

 

 

Mango Berry Floats

 

Ingredients:

Raspberry Sherbet

Peach Sherbet

Frozen or fresh strawberries (chopped)

Frozen or fresh mango (chopped)

Frozen or fresh raspberries

Lemon-Lime soda (aka Sprite)

 

 

Chop your mango and strawberries in a food processor (or whatever other method you use to chop!).  Add one good sized scoop of each kind of sherbet to a glass and top with a generous spoonful of raspberries, strawberries and mango.  Pour soda over the top.  Mix with your spoon a little so you get a good mixture of sherbet and fruit in each bite.

 

Enjoy!  Oh - and really, I want to know.... what's your favorite kind of dessert?