Adults Only! Orange Dreamsicle Salad

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One of my fondest memories as a child was summer barbecues. It was quite an event at our house. My mother would set up card tables all around the backyard, topping them with matching red and white checked tablecloths that she had made herself. On top of each table was a hurricane surrounded with fresh greenery and a candle that looked marvelous burning at night. At our house, a barbecue wasn’t a barbecue without a slab of ribs, deviled eggs, and my mother’s orange fluff salad. Everyone loved the orange fluff. She had no recipe, and, as such, I don’t have one to share with you, but I do have this one that I think is so much better, largely thanks to the hefty dose of alcohol that I have decided to add to it. This is for adults only, but I guarantee you they are going to love it. And, if you don’t tell them that orange liqueur is one of the ingredients, it’s going to come as quite a pleasant surprise. Do you want to become legendary? Serve this.

Adults Only! Orange Dreamsicle Salad

1 3-oz. box orange Jell-O
1 c. boiling water
1 3.4-oz. box vanilla pudding
½ c. extraordinarily well chilled orange liqueur*
1 8-oz. container Cool Whip**
1 c. miniature marshmallows
1 14-15 oz. can mandarin oranges***

In a large bowl, whisk together orange Jell-O and boiling water, whisking until Jell-O is fully dissolved. Add cold liqueur and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Remove mixture from the refrigerator, and slowly whisk in the vanilla pudding mix until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator for another 15 minutes until it becomes slightly thickened.

Remove mixture from the refrigerator, and fold in Cool Whip, mini marshmallows, and mandarin oranges. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with additional marshmallows and/or segments of reserved oranges.

I love to serve small salads like this in my favorite glass yogurt jars. If you don’t have any, I recommend these.

 
*I used Patron Citron, but you can use whatever you like. If you prefer less alcohol in this salad, use ½ cup of cold water and ½ cup of orange liqueur.
**Yes, I know. Chemicals! Chemicals! I’m on lock-down here, leave me alone.
***Reserve a few segments to use as a garnish, if desired.