Green Goop

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. - Marjorie Greenbie

Alright, picture this...imagine a nice quiet grandmother sitting in a rocking chair knitting a sweater for you (her favourite grandchild, of course), the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting from the kitchen...
now think of almost the exact opposite of that grandmother...and you will have my grandma Freda.  She arrived at Ellis island when she was only two years old...on a boat from Germany(for non-Americans....the same island as the Statue of Liberty).  Her name, along with the names of her parents, are engraved on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, which marks those who crossed through the island before finally landing in their new home of America.
She was always a spunky, independent and outspoken lady.  She embraced her new country whole heartedly.
I always had found memories of the few times our family drove down for Thanksgivings at her house.  She was a very good cook.  But, my hands down favourite recipe of her's was green goop.  (This frustrated her...when I asked for her recipe, she sort of cursed under her breath and then exclaimed,"what! out of all my recipes you want a recipe for Green Goop!! That isn't even a real recipe!").
Well, my grandmother passed away about 10 years ago.  And do you know what my children's favourite item on the Thanksgiving table is...I will let you guess...but I will tell you this...you never know how you will be remembered...but my children think their great-grandmother must have been the coolest grandmother in town for making such a lovely dish (lots of sugar and no vegetables...and you get to eat it with the turkey, and not have to wait for dessert.)

My Grandmother's Green Goop Recipe
( a "salad" to be eaten with the main meal)

Ingredients
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 can crushed pineapple, in its own juice
1 package instant Pistachio pudding
1 tub frozen whipped dessert topping, thawed (ie cool whip)
1/2 cup finally chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
(1/2 cup of grated coconut, optional)
(1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries, optional)

Directions
1.  In a bowl, mix the marshmallows, pineapple with juice.

I did not have mini marshmellows so my daughter and neices cut the large ones...

2.  Fold dry pudding and cool whip into the pineapple/marshmallow mixture.

3.  Fold in nuts and any additional items...(I added coconut)

5.  Enjoy!