Apple salad recipe

Whenever I attended a covered-dish meal, my family can pick out my contribution immediately. I always take Apple Salad.

This is one of those recipes that just evolved. I suppose my mother started with a recipe and then made changes to make it her own. Since then, I've made some changes to suit my tastes.

Give this recipe a try this weekend and then you'll have it memorized and ready for the next covered-dish dinner.

Apple Salad

1 can fruit cocktail

1 small tub Cool Whip (partially thawed)

2 or 3 apples

2 bananas

1 cup miniature marshmallows

2 or 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise

Drain most of the juice from the fruit cocktail; place the fruit cocktail in a large bowl. Add the miniature marshmallows and the partially thawed Cool Whip and mayonnaise. Carefully fold the ingredients together.

Chop the apples (preferably red for color and leave the peels on) and fold into the first mixture.

Shortly before serving, peel and chop the bananas and stir into the other ingredients. Do not add the bananas too soon or they will turn brown within a few hours. This does not harm the flavor but does ruin its appearance. Leftovers can be eaten the next day but the bananas will be discolored.

This is one of those recipes that you can make it any way you want. Sometimes I like to add a half cup of half maraschino cherries, plus a little of the juice. You can also add halved, seedless grapes and some chopped walnuts if you like.

The mayonnaise (or salad dressing) gives it a little tartness, which is pleasing.

Make it for your family first, then decide what kinds of things you want to add or subtract to make the recipe your own creation.