Shirley’s Grammy’s Famous Fruit Salad

 Today marks my friend Shirley’s 85th birthday! Sometimes, she’d rather be 60. Wouldn’t we all?

We celebrated yesterday, over lunch. 

I’ve known Shirl 20 years. She’s on the left; I’m on the right. Wine … Always the wine. 

Lunch and a glass of vino loosened Shirley’s lips. 

I pried those lips open wide enough that Shirley parted with her highly prized recipe for her grandmother’s (aka “Grammy’s”) fruit salad - a recipe so deliciously simple that Grammy didn’t serve it as dessert, but as a side dish for special dinners. 

Naturally, the proportions vary with the number at the table, but make plenty because everyone will want seconds. Make this at least two-to-four hours in advance, giving the marshmallows time to soften in the juices the fruits release.

Shirley’s Grammy’s Famous Fruit Salad:

Bananas, sliced as coins

Apples, peeled in bite-sized chunks 

Oranges, peeled in bite-sized chunks

Red grapes, rinsed, blotted dry, halved or quartered

Mini-marshmallows (Grammy had to quarter big ones … Ain’t progress grand?) 

Heavy cream (“whipping cream”), as desired, but enough to mix throughout the salad

Icing sugar (confectioner’s or powdered sugar), as desired

Gently combine fruits and marshmallows. Cover and refrigerate 2-to-4 hr. Beat cream with icing sugar until cream is lightly sweetened and stands in soft peaks. Combine cream with fruits until completely distributed.

I can’t be sure, but this salad may just have been a factor in Shirley’s and Grammy’s long lives (Don’t get me started on how Grampy used to chase Grammy around even after she’d lost both legs and was confined to a wheelchair. This is not an XXX-rated recipe blog).