I hated this salad when I was growing up: It was pink, had too many ingredients in it, and my very Southern family loved it — three good reasons to abstain. During Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, my mother would always go back for seconds, chiming, "You don't know what you're missing." But I knew, all right — an unappealing mishmash of canned fruit and mayonnaise. No thanks. However, as I've grown older my family's "Southern classics" don't embarrass me as much. I've actually eaten this salad many times as an adult, and though I'm not saying it's my favorite, sometimes I need seconds to be sure.

Ingredients

　　2 small cans of mandarin oranges, drained

　　1 16-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained

　　1 small jar maraschino cherries, drained and chopped

　　1 cup chopped pecans

　　1 cup shredded coconut (optional)

　　3 cups miniature marshmallows

　　1 container of Cool Whip

　　1/3 cup of mayonnaise

　　1 large package cream cheese, softened

　　1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

　　Combine Cool Whip, mayonnaise, cream cheese, and sugar in a large bowl. Beat until thoroughly blended. Stir in other ingredients. Chill at least two hours before serving. Serve on a bed of lettuce with tea biscuits (or some other salty cookie). Or pack in tupperware for a summer picnic.

　　My Mother Made Me Eat It