December 12th is National Ambrosia Day #NationalAmbrosiaDay is one #dessert I’ve never tried but I’ve seen it at different events growing up. Being made from #Fruit it reminds me of the #FruitSalad my grandmother Dorie would have us make during the #Holidays. I was thinking I might make Ambrosia Salad for David. Would you like to join me and we can make this recipe for your family as well?
Did you know National Ambrosia Day is celebrated every year on December 12? National Ambrosia Day celebrates a Greek mythological food, “Ambrosia”, also known as the “food of the Gods”. The Greeks believed that anyone who consumed Ambrosia would become immortal.
Today, Ambrosia is usually served as a dessert or a side dish. Ambrosia is a creamy Fruit Salad that can be made with any Fruits of your choice. While Ambrosia rarely features on anyone’s regular diet, it is enjoyed on special occasions and thankfully, it’s healthy too! National Ambrosia Day is a day of celebration for every foodie, and especially those who thrive on healthy treats.
Did you know the recipe for Ambrosia can be traced back to Cookbooks of the late 1800s. This was also the time when Citrus Fruits were easily available to all. The recipe was very simple. Ambrosia was prepared with Orange slices and Coconut coated with Sugar.
Ambrosia was served in a glass bowl. In America, Ambrosia can be traced back to the 19th Century when Ambrosia was very popular with the Southern Americans. However, Ambrosia did not appear in print in recipes until 1932.
In recent times, Ambrosia is made using Pineapples, Oranges, or Mandarin Oranges, and coated with Sugar and Coconut. Some even add Marshmallows and Jelly Beans to pack a punch. It’s also quite common to find Pecans and other Nuts in Ambrosia.
The creamy texture can be attained using Yogurt, Sour Cream, and Whipped Cream. Ambrosia is then refrigerated for a couple of hours or overnight to give it a perfect texture. However, traditional Ambrosia is made with freshly cut Fruits and served right away.
Some traditional recipes of Ambrosia in the South may also include Bananas, Cherries, Raisins and Nuts, and Grapefruits. Even though Ambrosia is a simple dish, it is heavy with Cream, which creates confusion about whether Ambrosia should be served as a dessert or a side dish. Ambrosia is packed with Vitamin C and the recipe can be adapted to suit any taste.
Ingredients
1 cup sour cream
1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1 can (8 ounces) pineapple tidbits, drained
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the oranges, pineapple, marshmallows and coconut. Add sour cream and toss to mix. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
