• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

| Bakersbeans (Wanda Baker) logo

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bakers Burger Blast
    • Baking
    • Beef
    • Breadmaker
    • Breakfast
    • Beverages
    • Camping
    • Chicken
    • Cookies
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Food For One
    • Holiday
    • Kid Friendly
    • Lunch
    • Quick Meals
    • Salads
    • Seafood
    • Sides
    • Simple
    • Snacks
    • Soups
    • Summer Salad Series
    • Thanksgiving
    • Turkey
    • Vegetarian
    • Whats in Season
    • Wine
  • Travel
    • Alberta Bound
    • Indonesia
    • United States
    • Adventures
  • Calgary Food Events
  • Contact
  • About
    • Work With Me

trifle

Watergate Salad Trifle

Mar 22, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Who remembers this popular green salad from the late 70’s and 80’s called Watergate Salad? It’s a salad known by names such as pistachio delight, shut the gate salad, green goop, green fluff and green stuff and these days can be found on the table during Thanksgiving or Easter celebrations.

According to research efforts, the origin of the name “Watergate salad” is obscure: Kraft Corporate Affairs (who makes the pistachio pudding) says “There are several urban myths regarding the name change, but we can’t substantiate any of them. We developed the recipe for Pistachio Pineapple Delight.” It was in 1975, the same year that pistachio pudding mix came out. According to Kraft Kitchens, when the recipe for Pistachio Pineapple Delight was sent out, an unnamed Chicago food editor renamed it Watergate Salad to promote interest in the recipe when she printed it in her column. Neither the article nor editor has been tracked down, however.

Further to this in in 1922 Helen Keller published a similar recipe, calling for canned diced pineapple, nuts, marshmallows, whipped cream and other ingredients. “I ate it first in California, so I call it Golden Gate Salad”. Similar “fruit salad” and “pineapple salad” recipes had been published in the 1910s, and “Golden Gate Salad” was served in some US hotels. The question still begs to be answered, who came up with this recipe or was it an accumulation of recipes as we see so often these days.

Watergate salad wasn’t something we ate regularly in our house, in fact more of an experience we had when we were at gatherings with friends or family. I never did understand (even though I grew up in the era of jelly salads), how a bowl of pudding with fruit, nuts and marshmallows could be a side to a dinner. Inspiration hit and I decided to make this retro recipe into a trifle with real whipping cream.

Cococo Chocolatiers Baking Chocolate
Cococo Chocolatiers Baking Chocolate

Recently we dropped into Cococo Chocolatiers to try their hot chocolate for YYC Hot Chocolate Fest and I noticed they carry baking chocolate. They asked if I would like to sample some and I graciously said yes. Chocolate shavings was one of the items I received  and was excited to use. While making the individual trifles, I added toasted pecan bits to the layers of the trifle along with the Cococo Chocolate Shavings.

If you are having a friends over make this in a trifle bowl and double it for a crowd. This was the perfect amount for four or you could easily stretch it into 6-8 individual servings.

 

Wategate Salad Trifle
Watergate Salad Trifle

 

 

Wategate Salad Trifle
Watergate Salad Trifle

 

Desserts, Salads, Sides, Simple, Sponsored, Vegetarian canned pineapple, chocolate shavings, dessert, easter brunch, easter dinner, green fluff, green goop, green stuff, kraft, marshmallows, pecans, pineapple, pistachio delight, pistachio pudding, retro recipes, salad, shut the gate salad, side, thanksgiving dinner, trifle, vintage recipe, watergate salad

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Looking for a recipe?

About Me


Food and lifestyle blogger since 2006. A wahm who writes about events, wine, family adventures, recipes and eating out in Calgary, Alberta and beyond.

my photos on tastespotting Foodista Food Blog of the Day Badge
Get new posts by email



Green Hosting Badge

Footer

 

Get new posts by email

Join me on my adventures both in and out of the kitchen! We travel in search of new experiences, go on adventures both near and far and cook in the kitchen creating new recipes, re-create recipes from previous generations, and seek out crazy food combinations yet sticking true to comfort food and simple recipes.

Follow Me

Follow me on Facebook Follow me on Twitter RSS Feed Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2019 | Bakersbeans (Wanda Baker) on the Seasoned Pro Theme

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.I acceptNo thank youPrivacy policy
Revoke cookies