Spring is in the air. And so are graduation parties, bridal showers, barbecues, family reunions and other friendly excuses for large get-togethers. My mother taught me to always bring a "dish to pass." Over the years I've learned to keep it simple to prepare and easy to transport.
I discovered this gem about a year ago at a workplace potluck. I was sitting in a corner grazing on a little of this and a little of that, none of it outstanding - after all, that's how potlucks are, no? – when someone asked if I had tried the grape salad. I immediately pictured green grapes tossed with salad greens dripping with a sweet dressing.
Fooled again! It turned out to be a fabulous dessert: rich and gooey and well, different. After one bite you'll want an entire bowl. Be practical, though, a few small spoonfuls are all you ought to eat and for that reason this recipe goes a long, long way with a crowd. This "salad" dessert is a real show-stopper. It gets people talking about their food. It's easy to make and it's easy to transport. What more can you ask for?
Except, maybe a treadmill if you eat too much.
Grape Salad
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 lbs. green grapes
- 2 lbs. purple grapes
- 1/2 c. sour cream
- 16 ounces cream cheese, best at room temperature
- 1/2 c. sugar
- 1 c. light brown sugar
- 1 c. nuts (mixture of walnuts & pecans), chopped
- 1 jar (10 oz.) caramel ice cream topping
METHOD:
1. Cream sugar, sour cream, and cream cheese. Fold carefully into grapes. Place grape mixture into a glass or plastic (not metal) 9x13 dish.
2. Sprinkle light brown sugar over grape mixture. Next sprinkle nuts over brown sugar. Drizzle caramel topping over the entire mixture. Cover and place in the refrigerator over night.
That's it for this edition of
What's for Dinner, a place where cyber friends get together on Saturday evening, share recipes, culinary traditions and discuss good food. And now, we're at the part of the program where it's time to discuss what
you're having for dinner tonight. So, go get a beverage, put your feet up and stick around a while. Feel free to ask about cooking and baking problems that might be haunting you. We'll do our best to steer you in the right direction.
Bon Appetit and Happy Mothers Day!