Cucumber

[JCinFLA]

GASP! You've never had ambrosia?!? You are sooo deprived! Actually it doesn't have melons in it. It does have all the berries, & pears, pineapple, coconut. A can of chunky fruit cocktail, a can of pineapple chunks, Cool Whip, & walnuts & coconut sprinkled on top.

I've never had that kind of ambrosia either. It must be a TX version, and ours down here is a FL version.

Our homemade ambrosia is made with: fresh orange sections (halved), cut up red delicious apples (small chunks), maraschino cherries (halved), and banana slices. Then raisins, shredded coconut, and pecans (quartered) are added right before it's served.

The grocery store version also has fresh grapefruit sections and pineapple chunks in it, but they leave out the apples and bananas ('cause they'd probably get brown before it sold maybe), and the raisins ('cause they swell up in the juice after awhile and some people don't like the looks of them).

Another one when our berries and citrus are in season is: strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, apples, oranges, bananas, shredded coconut, and pecans.

 

[IDJoel]

I've never had that kind of ambrosia either. It must be a TX version, and ours down here is a FL version.

Our homemade ambrosia is made with: fresh orange sections (halved), cut up red delicious apples (small chunks), maraschino cherries (halved), and banana slices. Then raisins, shredded coconut, and pecans (quartered) are added right before it's served.

The grocery store version also has fresh grapefruit sections and pineapple chunks in it, but they leave out the apples and bananas ('cause they'd probably get brown before it sold maybe), and the raisins ('cause they swell up in the juice after awhile and some people don't like the looks of them).

Another one when our berries and citrus are in season is: strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, apples, oranges, bananas, shredded coconut, and pecans.

I think were are close to the same age (my apologies if I am wrong; NO disrespect intended). My parents were of from the depression era so ambrosia was pretty simple: chunks of orange, apple, and banana, tossed with baker's coconut flakes and a drizzle of honey. The only time we saw fruit with whipped cream was when we were at friend's home's, or the church pot-puck ("good luck!" would have been a better name) and then it usually included... (don't make me say it... ) jello .

Mom never put nuts in the ambrosia; but she made a killer Waldorf Salad with apple, celery, and walnuts. I could see how the addition of pecans (even raisins... plump, swollen, juice-laden sweetness) can take this to the next level.

Really @JCinFLA !?
It is bad enough you have me ordering flavor concentrates I shouldn't/don't "need"... now you have me dusting off old recipe cards?! <where is my "indigent" emoji; followed by my "hanging my head in defeat" emoji?>

(Truthfully; thank you for the heaping handful of memories you just brought back. They are sweeter than the fruit salad!

)

 

[Kenna]

I've never had that kind of ambrosia either. It must be a TX version, and ours down here is a FL version.

Our homemade ambrosia is made with: fresh orange sections (halved), cut up red delicious apples (small chunks), maraschino cherries (halved), and banana slices. Then raisins, shredded coconut, and pecans (quartered) are added right before it's served.

The grocery store version also has fresh grapefruit sections and pineapple chunks in it, but they leave out the apples and bananas ('cause they'd probably get brown before it sold maybe), and the raisins ('cause they swell up in the juice after awhile and some people don't like the looks of them).

Another one when our berries and citrus are in season is: strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, apples, oranges, bananas, shredded coconut, and pecans.

I think were are close to the same age (my apologies if I am wrong; NO disrespect intended). My parents were of from the depression era so ambrosia was pretty simple: chunks of orange, apple, and banana, tossed with baker's coconut flakes and a drizzle of honey. The only time we saw fruit with whipped cream was when we were at friend's home's, or the church pot-puck ("good luck!" would have been a better name) and then it usually included... (don't make me say it... ) jello .

Mom never put nuts in the ambrosia; but she made a killer Waldorf Salad with apple, celery, and walnuts. I could see how the addition of pecans (even raisins... plump, swollen, juice-laden sweetness) can take this to the next level.

Really @JCinFLA !?
It is bad enough you have me ordering flavor concentrates I shouldn't/don't "need"... now you have me dusting off old recipe cards?! <where is my "indigent" emoji; followed by my "hanging my head in defeat" emoji?>

(Truthfully; thank you for the heaping handful of memories you just brought back. They are sweeter than the fruit salad!

)

My parents were raised during the depression also. Mom's family had 7 kids in it. Her mother made ambrosia, when possible, for holiday meals. There might not have been gifts, but there was a great meal. They had cows, so she made fres& whipped cream, slightly sweetened. And used what ever fruit was available. So in my experience any fruit can go into it, & walnuts or pecans, & coconut. I use canned chunky fruit cocktail & add to that other things. Pineapple & mandrin orange slices. Its just a giant fruit salad & the cool whip isn't required. That's just how my family has always done it. I put the nut & coconut on top because not everyone likes those.

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[Rin13]

Cucumber pairs well with melons, as mentioned by the other posters. That's what I bought it for. It brings that melon "texture" that I feel is missing from the flavorings themselves. It also adds a little juiciness, IMO. I would use 0.5-1%. It also goes well with lime or mint (herbal mint... not "gum" mint) as well.
It's very refreshing and subtle.

 

[Kenna]

Cucumber pairs well with melons, as mentioned by the other posters. That's what I bought it for. It brings that melon "texture" that I feel is missing from the flavorings themselves. It also adds a little juiciness, IMO. I would use 0.5-1%. It also goes well with lime or mint (herbal mint... not "gum" mint) as well.
It's very refreshing and subtle.

This!

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[JCinFLA]

I think were are close to the same age (my apologies if I am wrong; NO disrespect intended). My parents were of from the depression era so ambrosia was pretty simple: chunks of orange, apple, and banana, tossed with baker's coconut flakes and a drizzle of honey. The only time we saw fruit with whipped cream....it usually included... (don't make me say it... ) jello .

Mom never put nuts in the ambrosia; but she made a killer Waldorf Salad with apple, celery, and walnuts. I could see how the addition of pecans (even raisins... plump, swollen, juice-laden sweetness) can take this to the next level.

Yep, we're probably about the same age! I also remember getting whipped cream...on jello mostly! Except it wasn't really whipped cream, nor in the aerosol can like it is today. It was "Dream Whip" that came in a box and you made it yourself! Remember that?

OH! Waldorf Salad...yes, how well I remember it, too! It just HAD to be made for every family get-together it seems. Must have been some unwritten law or something. Mom still makes that about every 2-3 months. I can't count how many times I've eaten that since I was a kid.

(Truthfully; thank you for the heaping handful of memories you just brought back. They are sweeter than the fruit salad!

)

You're welcome! I agree about them being sweeter than the fruit salad, too!

 

[JCinFLA]

My parents were raised during the depression also. Mom's family had 7 kids in it. Her mother made ambrosia, when possible, for holiday meals. There might not have been gifts, but there was a great meal. They had cows, so she made fres& whipped cream, slightly sweetened.

Yes, ambrosia was usually a "holiday time" treat for us, too, or some other special get-together. But...YOU got fresh whipped cream??? REAL whipped cream??? Wow! We got boxed Dream Whip that you made into something "like" whipped cream.

And used what ever fruit was available. So in my experience any fruit can go into it, & walnuts or pecans, & coconut. I use canned chunky fruit cocktail & add to that other things. Pineapple & mandrin orange slices. Its just a giant fruit salad & the cool whip isn't required. That's just how my family has always done it. I put the nut & coconut on top because not everyone likes those.

OH! I didn't mean for my post to you to sound like ambrosia had to be like what we had/have down here in FL. Just that it must vary according to locale and what's available fruit and nut-wise there. I'm sorry if it seemed otherwise. I agree that many variations of mixed fruit salads are known as ambrosia. It also seems that the 2 common ingredients that most include (no matter what fruits or berries are in them)...are nuts and/or coconut. I've never looked it up, but I wonder if the idea of ambrosia originally came from Hawaii or some similar tropical place because of the ingredient types.

 

[Kenna]

Yes, ambrosia was usually a "holiday time" treat for us, too, or some other special get-together. But...YOU got fresh whipped cream??? REAL whipped cream??? Wow! We got boxed Dream Whip that you made into something "like" whipped cream.



OH! I didn't mean for my post to you to sound like ambrosia had to be like what we had/have down here in FL. Just that it must vary according to locale and what's available fruit and nut-wise there. I'm sorry if it seemed otherwise. I agree that many variations of mixed fruit salads are known as ambrosia. It also seems that the 2 common ingredients that most include (no matter what fruits or berries are in them)...are nuts and/or coconut. I've never looked it up, but I wonder if the idea of ambrosia originally came from Hawaii or some similar tropical place because of the ingredient types.

Lol! It didn't sound like that at all! Like all recipes it varies from family to family according to traditions. I never hot the real whipped cream, but my mothrr j her diblings did. We got cool whip. [emoji23]

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[Sugar_and_Spice]

I think were are close to the same age (my apologies if I am wrong; NO disrespect intended). My parents were of from the depression era so ambrosia was pretty simple: chunks of orange, apple, and banana, tossed with baker's coconut flakes and a drizzle of honey. The only time we saw fruit with whipped cream was when we were at friend's home's, or the church pot-puck ("good luck!" would have been a better name) and then it usually included... (don't make me say it... ) jello .

Mom never put nuts in the ambrosia; but she made a killer Waldorf Salad with apple, celery, and walnuts. I could see how the addition of pecans (even raisins... plump, swollen, juice-laden sweetness) can take this to the next level.

Really @JCinFLA !?
It is bad enough you have me ordering flavor concentrates I shouldn't/don't "need"... now you have me dusting off old recipe cards?! <where is my "indigent" emoji; followed by my "hanging my head in defeat" emoji?>

(Truthfully; thank you for the heaping handful of memories you just brought back. They are sweeter than the fruit salad!

)

Oh yes, the memories.......I am with @JCinFLA on the apples, nuts, and banana's. Actually, my mom used whatever was available to mix at family holidays.(depression area folks here also) So I think I must have had everyone's versions while growing up.
@Kenna
In later years my mom would use the same thing as you...can of fruit cocktail, etc.......