Holiday Fruit Salad

My mother-in-law has been making this fruit salad for as long as I have been in their family (24 years). Each holiday, after dinner, we would all sit down and play board games or cards and munch on fruit salad. My new brother-in-law from Panama is even in love with it, and he does not have much of a sweet tooth.

The recipe is a variation of one she found years ago. She is diabetic and had to revise the dish to fit her dietary needs. Even though it is “sugar free”, carbs must be counted if you are diabetic. It is a fruit salad after all! Hope you enjoy. It is TRULY a great recipe.

• 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and diced (I prefer red delicious)
• 1 large banana, split in half length wise and then sliced
• 1 pound of red seedless grapes, each cut in half
• 1 medium can of mandarin oranges
• 1 medium can of crushed pineapple
• 1 cup of golden raisins
• 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 small container of whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons Equal or Splenda

Empty the can of oranges and pineapple and dump into a colander. Let it sit and drain for at least 30 minutes so that all the liquid is removed. The reserved juice can be used to baste your Christmas ham (delicious).

Whip the cream until very light. Add the diet sugar and continue whipping until firm peaks form.

Combine the drained fruit in a large serving bowl (I use a stainless steel or glass bowl that has been refrigerated) along with the cut fruit. Add raisins and nuts. Gently fold in the whipping cream. You may not use all the cream. It should be enough to just “coat” the fruit. Refrigerate until serving time.