PINEAPPLE WHIPPED CREAM DRESSING --- AND MY REVIEW OF THE NEW NATURE VALLEY GRANOLA CLUSTERS

When I was a kid, my mother, bless her heart, made (what she called) fruit salad on special occasions. Her idea of fruit salad was a can of drained fruit cocktail with a little Dream Whip stirred in; if it was a very special occasion, she added a banana. When I started cooking, a good fruit salad was one of the things I wanted to learn how to make.

The other day, Judy from Mennonite Girls Can Cook posted a simple little recipe for a fruit salad dressing that is exactly what I've been searching for (they have the greatest recipes over there). A cooked pineapple flavored whipped cream dressing that I just had to try.

1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup whipping cream (+1/4 cup sugar - my tweak)

Beat the eggs until smooth, then stir in sugar and juices. Cook over medium heat until thickened (stirring constantly). Chill

Just before serving, whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form and fold it into the chilled pineapple mixture. Fold the dressing into the salad or serve on the side.

NOTE: The recipe, as written, is ALMOST on the verge of tart (for our tastes), so I added 1/4 cup of sugar to the whipping cream before I whipped it. The additional sugar produces a dressing that is ALMOST verging on sweet (definitely not too sweet). Here is my suggestion: When the cooked part of the dressing has chilled, taste it...if you like it, don't add any extra sugar and just fold it directly into the whipped cream. If you would like the final dressing to be a little sweeter, add the extra sugar to the whipping cream before you whip it, then fold the two together. Does that make sense?

NOTE: This pineapple whipped cream is super light, fluffy and creamy, it would be great on just about anything (I plan on using it on pound cake). I also have plans for substituting orange juice for the pineapple juice and making an orange flavored whipped cream. TONS of possibilities here!

NATURE VALLEY GRANOLA NUT CLUSTERS

The people at MyBlogSpark.com recently sent me some Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters, and asked me to review them on my recipe page. They sent me four varieties: Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond, Roasted Cashew and Honey Roasted Peanut. They were all delicious, but I think I enjoyed the almond variety the most...Hubby liked the cashew.

Each bite size "cluster" is 100% natural and lightly sweetened with honey. It would be a PERFECT lunch box snack for office or school, and, in MY case, perfect at my computer desk. They are not messy at all (no crumbs) so they would make an excellent emergency breakfast (in the car) on those days when you are in a rush. They are very satisfying and not full of empty calories like most snacks. They get FIVE stars from me.