Not Your Traditional Ambrosia

This is another of “Grandma’s Recipes”, meaning a recipe I picked up from my mother-in-law.  And although Not Your Traditional Ambrosia, (which is made with fresh mandarin oranges, coconut and marshmallows) we love it at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Why I never make it any other time of year I’m not sure.  I think I just get stuck in my head the dishes that we make for holidays and I never make them any other time.  Maybe I’m afraid they won’t be special if we have them all year round. This is a super easy, semi-homemade recipe using canned fruit, which makes it great for winter since fresh fruit is scarce.  It needs to be made a day ahead, perfect when getting ready for a holiday celebration.  If you have leftovers, they will keep a couple of days.  It’s a very “forgiving” recipe, which means you can make as little or as much as you need and adjust ingredients to your family’s taste.  It’s creamy and delicious has a secret ingredient.  The secret ingredient is……WAIT.FOR.IT……. sour cream!  Ok, don’t click away because you think you don’t like sour cream, I don’t either.  However, I ate this ambrosia for several years before asking for the recipe, which is when I learned about the sour cream.  By letting the dish set overnight, the sweetness of the fruit changes the taste of the sour cream completely.  I hope you’ll give it a try. Here’s the Recipe:  1 can fruit cocktail – drained (we like the extra cherry kind) 1 can mandarin oranges – drained 1/4 – 1/2 cup coconut – to taste (may be omitted if desired) 1 cup marshmallows – (more or less if you like) 2-3 oz sour cream  Optional: pecans or walnuts Make sure the fruit is drained well but not bone dry Place drained fruit in a plastic container with an airtight lid Add desired amount of coconut and marshmallows and mix well Starting with about 1/4 cup, mix in sour cream Gradually add more until fruit is well coated Seal and refrigerate overnight Can be topped with a little extra coconut just before serving Do you have a Christmas side unique to your family?