Tangerine Creamsicle Salad

You know how at the holidays you have family gatherings and there are some dishes particular people always bring you feel obligated to try, (sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping anyone?  EW.) and others you eagerly look forward to every year?  This is one of those recipes.  One of the good ones.

My aunt used to bring this to our family holiday meals and we always wondered what her secret was!  It's just a gorgeously, creamy orange color and her salad also held a beautiful shape when served.  And that doesn't say anything for the taste, which is delightfully fresh and light, especially in the midst of all that heavy holiday feasting!

The original recipe called for cool whip and canned mandarin oranges, but my honey was raised in CA, his taste for canned citrus is non-existent.  So we use fresh.  I also modified the recipe slightly to use real whipped cream rather than the cool whip, for my own tastes.  Warning note on that:  it doesn't set up as nicely with the real cream, so if you're going for a molded dessert, use the cool whip!

Either way, start by mixing a large box of jello with 1 cup boiling water.

Then add 1 pint orange sherbet.  Mine wasn't homemade, but the homemade version would be really yummy!

While the sherbet melts a little, whip your cream.  Try not to use a broken hand mixer, but even if you do, (like I did) try not to forget to turn it up to the highest setting.  If you do, it will take 30 minutes to whip your cream.  I speak from experience.

The cream is ready when it forms stiff peaks that stand alone.  I mixed in a little vanilla, but no sugar.  

Once the sherbet is melted, it should mix in with the jello and make a nice, smooth (gelatinous) concoction...

I used fresh tangerines, but you can still use canned!  If you do, make sure to drain them.  Two cups or two cans of tangerine slices is about right.  Add those and the whipped cream to the jello/sherbet mixture and fold in gently.

Refrigerate for several hours to let it to set--preferably overnight!

I haven't tried it yet, but this would be delicious in other flavors!  Maybe we'll try something new and share it with you at Christmastime. :)

Tangerine Creamsicle Salad

1 large box orange jello

1 cup boiling water

1 pint orange sherbet
1 pint heavy cream, whipped (or one 8 oz. container cool whip)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups tangerine slices (fresh [about 8 tangerines] or canned; drain if using canned)

Combine jello and water in large bowl.  Mix in sherbet and allow to melt and blend completely with jello.  Whip cream until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold whipped cream and tangerines into jello mixture.  Refrigerate for several hours to allow to set.  Serve cold.