Ma made pink stuff for the first time the Thanksgiving of 4th grade. Kids measure time by grade, not by age. I was in 4th grade. My teacher was Mr. Barnhart. I liked him. He was my first boy teacher. A 4th grade palate did not know what to think of that bounteous beautiful bowl of pink stuff that obviously caressed strawberries, grapes, apples, bananas, and walnuts but mostly strawberries. Strawberries on the Thanksgiving table. What was that bowl of yum?
"Huh? What? What did you ask, Dad? Oh! What do I want?"
"Pink Stuff, I want Pink Stuff!"
Thus a 5 generation tradition was named and born.
Pink Stuff
1 6 ounce box strawberry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
2 pounds frozen strawberries, defrosted and drained
Fresh or canned chopped fruit and nuts of your choice (apple, banana, grapes, drained fruit cocktail, and nuts)
1 16 ounce container frozen non dairy whipped topping
Open package of Jell-O into a large mixing bowl. Pour boiling water over Jell-O and stir in a full 2 minutes.
Measure juice drained from defrosted strawberries. Add cold water, as needed to measure 1 1/2 cups. Mix well.
Let cool in the refrigerator until it reaches soft set. This usually requires 30+ minutes. Gently mix in non dairy whipped topping until thoroughly combined.
Gently stir in drained strawberries and all the fruits and nuts you want. Of course a 4th grade girl wants strawberries and lots of them!
Set the big bowl of yum in the refrigerator until set. I always make the Pink Stuff the day before the big holiday dinner. That gives me more time to make the grown-up food on the big day.
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