Friday, April 23, 2010

My Mom's Favorite Fruit Salad-Foodie Friday


     This is one of my favorite pictures, and I don't have favorite pictures with me in them. You are looking at 3 women who hate having their picture taken and avoid it at all costs. The conversation when I had this photo framed for my mom, daughter and I covered the fact that my daughter really does have beautiful long blonde hair that just happened to be pulled into a ponytail after a day at the pool, my mom really isn't "fat" and I actually do stand up straight under normal conditions. With all of that said, we loved having a chance to get a picture of all 3 generations at once. So, you are getting a rare glimpse of an online photo of us...bet I don't look like you thought I did? Hmm?

     I told you that I would be telling you about my mother this week. I've thought about it quite a bit and I really think that I will just paint a bit of a verbal picture of the woman I love more than life. I could make it brief and tell you that she lives on a beautiful little island in Florida, famous for the powder sugar beach. She plays bridge, shops at Talbots and has traveled to wonderful places. She writes thank you notes for everything, loves to entertain and raised her 2 daughters to be both polite and proper adults. Those are some of the facts, but they don't really tell you much about my mom.

     My mom lives for her children and grandchildren. Actually, the grandkids are really her loves these days. She is their biggest fan, even when their parents might be having a hard time with them. They all worship her and her 4 oldest (of 6) have all made the trip to see her in the past couple of weeks.

     She bought me a Mother's Day gift the first year I became a mother and has continued to do so every year since.

     When my daughter was 5, she was hospitalized in Orlando. We were trapped in a hospital room with a 7-year-old boy and days without sleep, my parents flew in from Illinois for 2 days so that we could go to the hotel and sleep.

     When I had my gallbladder out with only 2 days notice, my parents drove through the night and got here just before they took me into surgery.

     My mom loves gourmet food and fabulous chocolate...but, she'd rather have cheap Brach's Bridge Mix (tastes like wax to me). When I was a kid, I'd find those really big Hershey bars hidden around the house.

     Mom buys things in 3's. When she finds something she loves, my sister and I get one too.

     My mom always has time to really listen. I try to make all of you think that I really have my act together...but really, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I'm really just a scared kid who needs her mom to tell her it will be okay...my mom always talks me through it, day or night...no matter how long it takes.

     We have lived 1000 miles apart for the past 20 years, but we talk 2 or 3 times a day. I almost always know where she is, what she is doing and she knows what I'm fixing for dinner. It was the only way we knew we could survive when they moved to Florida. Thankfully, they invented cell phones and our phone bills went down.

     My mom is cool. She loves American Idol and we often share the same music, books and television shows.

     I could go on and on...but, you get the idea. Mom has always been very young for her age (a side benefit of all that Florida sunshine) and she is treasured by our entire family.

     One of her favorite salads is a simple fruit salad that I've made for years. I was lucky enough to be able to make it for her while she had her 5 days at home. I even took a really bad picture of it.



Ingredients:

1 large can pineapple chunks (drained, save the juice)
1 large can mandarin oranges (drained)
1 1/2 cups grapes cut in half
1 1/2 cup mini-marshmallows or reg. marshmallows, quartered
1 pint sour cream
1 box instant vanilla pudding

Stir the sour cream and pudding together, adding a small amount of the pineapple juice to make it creamy. Add the fruit and marshamallows and chill. If you feel it is too thick, stir in some of the reserved juice. This salad can almost be a dessert.

Please join Michael at Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. You won't be disappointed!


35 comments:

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

Wow, it is wonderful to have such a tight and loving relationship with your Mom indeed. I can't say that for myself.

Love your hair cut!!!

Unknown said...

Oh, we love fruit salads and this one looks easy-peasy!! Thanks for sharing :)

Blessings!
Gail

DUTA said...

That's a fabulous picture of three generations of women in the same family.
I've greatly enjoyed reading this well written, loving post describing an ideal Mother, and ideal mother-daughter-grandchildren relationships.

Blondie's Journal said...

What a lovely tribute to your mom! I love it. My mother used to hide her favorite Heath Bars around the house...only because she didn't want us to know how much she loved them! You brought back those memories in your fabulous post.

The salad looks delish and I love the 3 generational picture!! All of you are beautiful women!

xoxo
Jane

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Three pretty ladies! I don't like my picture taken either - never have. It is great that you and your Mother have such a close relationship and can communicate. The fruit salad sounds like one my daughter has made before - thanks for sharing the recipe.
Enjoy your weekend.

dee dee said...

I love the photo of the three of you together, what a cherished keepsake! Thanks for sharing about your beautiful mom, she sounds so much like mine! (even the candy in the sock draws!)
It great how we learn from our parents... I bet if you ask your daughter to write about you, it would be full of sweet things too!
Prayers... Dee Dee

Melinda said...

I love your mom! The salad looks good too! :)

Gypsy Heart said...

I love this picture! It makes me happy to see 3 lovely ladies as well as a glimpse of water, sky, foliage, beautiful homes and a seagull! I love what you've shared about your mom too. I
didn't have that type of relationship with my mother...just little pieces of it at times. The salad looks & sounds delish! I'm starving at the moment and could really pig out on it. ;-)

You and your family remain in my prayers.

xoxo
Pat

Marigene said...

What a wonderful tribute to your mother...very nice photo of your family.

xinex said...

Oh Sue, I have missed you too. I am so happy to hear from you. Are you still in Florida? You mom sounds so wonderful! I love the photo of the 3 generations. The fruit salad looks so good. I will have to try it sometime....Christien

A Gift Wrapped Life said...

Your Mom sounds so wonderful and such an important person in all of your lives....as it should be. I hope she is doing better and that
you share your love with her on Mother's Day.
thinking of you. XO

bj said...

Well, little Susie..this brought tears to my eyes because your mom and I were made from the very same mold. Your description of your relationship with her is, to the tee, of my daughter and I. I am so thankful that you love your mama so much. It is only a FRACTION of how much SHE loves YOU...I KNOW...because our hearts must be the very same!!
You are such a sweetie, Sue.
xo bj

Lexie said...

awww! don't remove this picture! you three ladies are gorgeous --- you look a lot like my aunt vivian which is a WONDERFUL thing! :)

Jane said...

What a loving tribute to your mom. I envy your close relationship with her. It's also wonderful that she and your daughter are close.
This photo is a special memento...
Jane (artfully graced)

ps thanks for visiting Artfully Graced.

Relyn Lawson said...

I love hearing about your Mom. I'm sure she's where you learned how to be such a good mom yourself. Lucky you. Lucky your daughter, too.

Glennis said...

A fun salad recipe! I wonder if there is something that could be substituted for the marshmallows - or screw it, just go for it!

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Your blog is absolutley beautiful....I love stoping by...and I love your blog name...Had a few hours to blog hop tonight......

....Be sure and stop by and read about a miracle in our family....
http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-think-god-smiled.html
http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Sue,
That was such a lovely tribute and the pic of you and daughter and Mom is beautiful!
It was gall bladder surgery that I had. Emergency, because it was so infected. I see you know how that feels. Thanks for coming by and I am thinking of you and your Mom.
Hugs,
Cindy

Holly Lefevre said...

Firs I love the photo...I hate photos of me...but recently started thinking maybe one day I will treasure them!

If it was not so late I would call my mom and tell her how much I love her. I try to tell her often, but after reading your posts and the love you have for your mother, I figure I can never tell her that enough.

This is an absolutely beautiful tribute to your mother.

Barbara said...

What a great tribute to your Mom...how lucky you are to still have her around. I would say treasure each moment, but I know you do.

Barbara

Lyneen said...

What a wonderful post... thanks for sharing so much about your mother. Makes me think about mine and how wonderful she is. I am so sad to read your previous posts. My heart is sad, thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Thanks for stopping by.

Rettabug said...

This is a great tribute to your Mom, Sue. I can only hope & pray that someday mine feels the same way about me.

We made the same fruit salad here but have never used the pudding in it but add coconut instead. I'll have to try your version next time.

Silver Strands said...

LOVE that pic at the top of the post with your Mom :)
Denalee

Sandi (Meme) said...

I think you know MY Mom! Sounds like all the things I SHOULD be saying about her! What a great photo, and oh what wonderful memories you have. Thanks for stopping by to comment on my grand daughter's photos in the Pink Saturday post. I enjoyed your visit, and please come back any time!

Patty Benedict said...

Sue...My heart goes out to you and your Family. Parents are true treasures!!!!!
Sending you big hugs!
Patty

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Hi there...I have been thinking about you and your Mom....I was really close to my Mom too,I know its hard for you to even think about her not being here.Take it easy,Love Chrissy

bj said...

just stopping in to say I am thinking of you...
love, bj

Maria said...

Hi Sue!
I did picture you with dark hair!
You three girls are beautiful!
What telling eyes and smiles...
They tell us in unspoken words of the list you wrote ---
---the joys and deep family love you have for each other...
*All of you have eyes that twinkle*

Your post today left me with a full heart... I want to share this with my own daughters, praying that we will stay this close.

This kind of love is eternal ♥ God bless all of your family, Sue~

~Maria

JUST ME said...

I've always wanted to try fruit salad with marshmallows in it...probably because my mom would NEVER make it when we were a kid. She had a thing against marshmallows.

Also, your mom sounds AWESOME.

Sue said...

How wonderful to have such a close relationship with your mom! You are a great daughter too, and I'm sure, just as great a mother. I wish that for all mothers and daughters.

Thinking of you all.

No, you don't look like I thought you would. Thanks for sharing. It's nice to put a name with a face. You all look fantastic!

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I made this on Saturday for dinner; it was all gone last night. So delicious!

Angie said...

Sue - what a great photo! You've told a wonderful story of your mom; I'm sure she treasures your relationship just as much.

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Dear Sue
What a beautiful post.. sorry I am late.. I've had a crazy week....

I love what you have written here about your mum and with the photo it is all so real to me... Your mum sounds like a kind and wise woman.. she sounds very much like my mum was and I understand your close connection.... I think your tribute to her is just lovely and I know everyone else must enjoy this too as we have all had you and your mum in our daily thoughts and prayers...

By the way.. you look almost exactly like I had pictured you!! haha how strange... Take care Dear Sue.. now I have to catch up on the other posts I have missed.. xxx Julie

Anonymous said...

this is awfull

Anonymous said...

mmmmmmmmmm........