Ok, I know you are just completely bogged down with 4th of July recipes by now, but I have one final dish for you to consider – Easiest Fruit Salad. Named as such because it is quite possibly the easiest, yet tastiest, fruit salad known to man, and would be a hit at a 4th of July picnic (or anytime this summer, really!)
Easiest Fruit Salad also goes by another name – Recital Fruit. Not Recital Fruit Salad, mind you – just Recital Fruit. The recipe is from my friend’s Mom who used to make the magical, easily transportable concoction of fresh strawberries, bananas, mandarin oranges, and marshmallows for us every year growing up when our dance studio put on its annual spring recital at the Civic Center.
Needing sustenance into the wee hours of the morning, which practices usually went until, she’d send a big tub with her daughter, my friend Laura, along with a plethora of plastic spoons so everyone could scoop up their fair share of this sweet, super-Midwestern fruit salad. I mean, marshmallows in a fruit salad? Brilliant!
They get kind of soft and mousse-like after soaking up the juices of the fruit and melt into the strawberry-banana flavor spiked with mandarin. I adore this combo and have yet to meet someone who doesn’t!
Like I said, the recipe couldn’t be easier and comes together lickity-split. Start by slicing 1lb strawberries.Â
Add the strawberries to a large bowl then add 1 can drained mandarin oranges. Ultra juicy.
In goes 2 sliced large bananas, or 3 small sliced bananas (if making ahead of time, add these just before serving.)
Followed by 1 cup mini marshmallows. Like I said – pure Midwest, purely delish. Easiest Fruit Salad MUST have mini marshmallows!
Toss to combine then stash in the fridge for about 30 minutes to give the marshmallows time to soften and soak up some of the yummy juices from the strawberries and mandarin oranges, then enjoy!
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Easiest Fruit Salad
Description
Easiest Fruit Salad takes mere minutes to toss together. A classic Midwestern fruit salad recipe!
Ingredients
- 1lb strawberries, sliced
- 15oz can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 large bananas (or 3 small bananas,) sliced
Directions
- Combine strawberries, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and bananas in a large bowl then chill and serve. Can make several hours ahead of time, but add sliced bananas just before serving.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Isn’t she pretty? This was a fun recipe to phototgraph. :)
Like my friend Laura says, the best way to eat this salad is to make sure you get one of everything in each bite. You can’t beat the classic strawberry-banana combo, and the burst of juicy citrus is Heaven with the creamy marshmallow. Hope you enjoy, and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!
Lindsay @ This Midwest 07.03.2013
So simple and I love the marshmallows! Brings out the inner child.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious 07.03.2013
What a cute photo! And this salad – yes! Definitely loving the mini marshmallows!
Sara 07.03.2013
I love the dance picture!
Also, Happy Early Birthday! I love early July birthdays-mine is the 7th and my dad always saved a few fireworks to set off on my birthday :) Enjoy the holiday!
Tracy 07.03.2013
My midwestern grandma (Omaha) made a salad similar to this all the time when I was growing up! Yum! Hers also had fruit cocktail with cherries.
Mallory 07.03.2013
The fruit salad looks delicious, and incredibly easy!
And I think I totally had the same dance costume you guys are wearing in that picture…the skirt was like a bunch of strips of toilet paper? And it had little pink underwear things? (I remember this specifically because one time at a competition my mom had the costume underwear in her purse for some reason, then she forgot her purse at Fazoli’s and I was thisclose to having to wear my actual pink underwear on stage.)
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 07.03.2013
I LOVE fruit salad, but surprisingly, have never added marshmallows to mine. I will have to track done some vegan ones and add them to my next salad :).
Kristi 07.03.2013
I love easy recipes that allow me to use a lot of the produce I have on hand.
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking 07.03.2013
This is the perfect light, sweet treat to cap off a BBQ!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction 07.03.2013
My grandma used to make this all the time for summer family gatherings! Love it!
Faith@The Stirring Place 07.03.2013
I’m usually not a marshmallow person but it sounds delish!! Esp the strawberry/banana combo. Happy 4th!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health 07.03.2013
Yep, that’s pretty dang easy! I love the fruits in this, actually, anything but cantaloupe and I’m good. Have a great 4th! :)
Becky 07.03.2013
Bahahahahahaha…it IS so totally midwestern to put marshmallows in salad!
My kids will love this…it just might show up for our 4th of July cook out!
Just think, in no time at all, Iowa Baby Eats will be gobbling this up!
Shannon 07.03.2013
Nothing like a pop of mini marshmellows! Love it!
erin @hooleywithaz 07.03.2013
oh my gosh. what a blast from the past! this reminds me of dance recitals and girl scout camp. you were not lying when you said this recipe would taste like 1995!
Brittany 07.03.2013
I think I would find it impossibly difficult to resist adding that deep color (purple grapes or blueberries) to this – already scrumptious – dish! I’ts definitely going down soon…
Iowa Girl Eats 07.03.2013
Haha I know, trust me I wanted to throw ALL THE THINGS into this salad, but I resisted. The simplicity is what makes it so good! :)
Sally 07.03.2013
Where did you get those bowls?! Super cute!
Tieghan 07.03.2013
Yum! This looks awesome!
Jamie @lifelovelemons 07.03.2013
we have this at holidays all the time! and, yes, so easy!
Courtney 07.03.2013
So simple! What a great side dish for summertime!
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 07.03.2013
I’m going to have to make this today my daughters would LOVE it. I can’t help but notice that it’s impossibly early for a posting. Hope you’re not suffering from a case of pregnancy induced insomnia ;)