My favorite comfort food is something my Gramma used to make called Heavenly Hash. When I had a rough day or was sick, my Gram would make Heavenly Hash to make me feel better. During both my pregnancies, my mom would make it for me as it was one of the few things I could stomach – until I got The Diabeetus, which RUINS EVERYTHING. But I digress. My mom and I realized that we’d never made Heavenly Hash for Annabel, so I set out to change that.
Heavenly Hash
You need:
2 29-oz cans of pear halves
2 20-oz can of pineapple chunks
1 24-oz container of sour cream
3 cups mini marshmallows
Pour the fruit into a colander and drain well. You don’t want any extra juice or syrup or your hash will be runny.
Cut the pear halves into smaller pieces. They don’t have to be neat or even – I didn’t even take them out of the colander to cut them.
Put the fruit, marshmallows, and sour cream into a mixing bowl and stir until everything is incorporated.
Pour that mix into a baking dish. I like the clear ones because they are pretty, and also because it’s all I have.
Spread it evenly in the dish.
Refrigerate for at least two – three hours. When I was having a bad day I’d call my Gramma during lunch, and she’d have it ready by the time I came home from school a few hours later. Awww. I miss her.
Annie and I snacked on Marshmallows.
She could NOT! WAIT! to try the “pears and shmallows!”
Ready to eat!
Time for the test…
…the bites…
She’s getting closer to figuring out the thumbs up! She also ate this entire plate in about five minutes.
Enjoy!
- 2 29-oz cans of pear halves
- 2 20-oz can of pineapple chunks
- 1 24-oz container of sour cream
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- Drain the juice from the pears and pineapples
- Cut the pear halves into smaller pieces
- Add marshmallows and sour cream and thoroughly mix together
- Pour into a baking dish and refrigerate several hours before serving
Becca Masters says:
I wasn’t expecting fruit and marshmallow! That looks awesome. Shame I’m allergic to most fruit. Suggestions on a good substitute?
Robyn says:
That sounds disgustingly delicious! And it reminds me of a similar “frozen fruit salad” my mom used to make for holidays.
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup orange juice concentrate
1/2 whipping cream
16 oz can fruit cocktail, drained
11 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
Beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add sour cream and orange juice concentrate. Whip cream and fold into cream cheese mixture. Fold in fruit. Spread in 9×9 inch baking pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm. Let stand at room temp about 10 minutes before serving. YUM! (But SO not a “salad.”)
Merrilee says:
Yum. I make that, but we call it Ambrosia, don’t use pineapple and add desiccated coconut.
It’s funny to see the variation!
Merrilee says:
Sorry, no idea why my comment is up here as a reply! It’s a stand alone comment. Sorry.
Liz says:
This sort of thing is my least favorite kind of food (like ambrosia salad and this orange stuff we always have at Thanksgiving), but my mom and my aunts would be all over this recipe. I think I’ll share it with them, as long as they don’t make me eat it at Easter!
Tracy says:
I think Annie is flashing gang signs, yo. ;-).
OK, maybe not.
My grandma always made me a similar salad with cranberries–and she still makes it for me for every holiday, even though I’m a vegetarian now and thus don’t eat marshmallows, ha.
Jen says:
Now this is something I can make! I’m trying this tonight.
Jennie B says:
I used to order Heavenly Hash at my favorite breakfast place in Berkeley. It was decidedly *not* at all like this
I bet my kids would devour this. My Anabelle (almost 3) would love helping to stir. Sounds like a project for the long weekend.
Shan says:
Ooh I think my little Carter would lurv this hash! And we can call it semi healthy because of all the fruit..right…riiiight?
Emerson says:
Whoa, decidedly not what I was expecting! Heavenly Hash is a type of ice cream I had as a kid…it’s vanilla and chocolate ice cream filled with white vanilla marshmallow swirls, chopped almonds, and dark chocolate chunks.. Completely different, but both sound delicious.
KathyL says:
I’m thinking we made heavenly hash with marshmallows, crushed pineapple, diced maraschino cherries and whipped cream. I’m going to have to try your version too.
Sarah says:
I’m sure everyone will hate me for this comment, but it seems like most of the recipes you post are for desserts or fattening meals. I know you have mentioned trying to eat healthier with Mike, but these recipes don’t help. I’m sure you don’t write on everything you eat (or what you normally give Annie) but just given the past recipes it doesn’t seem nutritious.
Linda (Annie's Grandma) says:
Sarah
I think if you go back and check, three of her last recipes were healthier meals. And like you said Heather actually doesn’t make these every day. A lot of her recipes came from my Mom, her Grandmother who didn’t live in a low fat/fat free world. I don’t imagine everyone will like all the recipes she posts, but I’m proud that she is trying to learn from someone I considered to be one of the best cooks in the world.
Becca_Masters says:
sometimes you need a treat. it’s all well and good eating healthy (and to be fair there are a few healthy recipes on Heathers blog) but sometimes I like to kick back after a healthy dinner and have me some cheesecake (totally not healthy). you only live once right, so you may as well treat yourself every now and again.
lisa says:
i love the “comfort food” aspect to heather’s grandmother’s recipes. i think that’s what gran’s did/do best: in my own experience anyway, my nan served up simple, filling, cheap (let’s just say it was ireland, 2nd half of 20th century, and she had 9 kids!), heart-warming food…and oooooh but it tasted gooood!
linda i love your statement “A lot of her recipes came from my Mom, her Grandmother who didn’t live in a low fat/fat free world”. i think we LOVE to demonise fat these days, while we go right ahead and stuff our poor bodies with “low cal” “low sugar” (and sorry, low taste!) alternatives that’ll kill us a lot faster than plain old fat would!
please keep sharing these wonderful recipes, heather – i love them!
Daisy says:
If you don’t post a cocktail recipe soon I’m going to start a rumor that you are pregnant. With triplets.
Sue says:
Oh,,,My,,,,,Goodness,,,I, too, have seen healthy recipes on Heather’s blog. We can all be sure that Heather is NOT serving these sweet treats as the main course!!
Aubrey says:
Sounds like one of my favorite deserts my Grandma always made. She called it Watergate Salad. I have no idea why.
1 container Whipped Cream
1 Can crushed pineapple
1 bag marshmallows
1 box pistachio pudding.(you can’t really taste it, I think she did it just for the color)
Mix the pineapple with the pudding until it is dissolved.
Stir in your whipped cream and marshmallows
refrigerate
Super simple, really yummy. If I make it I have to make tons cause it’s usually gone by the time we are done stirring. My kids love it. Now I will have to try your Heavenly Hash, which looks way better than any hash I have ever had.
Amy K says:
My mom makes the exact same thing! It’s been a holiday staple for decades. She’s never called it Watergate Salad, though – just “that pineapple salad thing.” I like your family’s name better.
Casey says:
Yep, my grandma made the same thing and called it by the same name! Too funny! She always made it for holidays and church potlucks… good ‘ol Watergate salad It was YUM.
Alejandra Hernandez says:
My mom uses fruit cocktail, whipped topping, marshmallows, and pecans. Yum!
AMY says:
I was totally expecting a hashbrown recipe!!!!
My mom makes something like this for Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner, but instead of sour cream she whips cream and uses that and it has cut up fresh apples and bananas and kiwi in it too. The mini marshmallows are what make it in the end though.
:) says:
Not my thing. I love fruit and marshmallows but I’m not keen on sour cream.
And just a genuine query, does everything in America come processed in tins? That sounds quite snide but I’m being serious!
Emily says:
No, it’s like every other country. You can buy things in tins, you can buy things fresh, you can buy things in boxes, you can buy things in bags etc.
michelle in mo says:
My mom is at the store right now with the list I made her from this recipe. Here in the Midwest, something similar is called 5 cup salad and it has mandarin oranges and coconut in it. I’ve always hated it. But this sounds delicious and my fruit will be draining as soon as she gets back with the goods! I still really want to try the pu pus too!
Brooke says:
I was also thinking about 5 cup salad with this recipe (which is one cup each of pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, coconut, marshmallows and sour cream. My mom added cherries for a touch of color).
And I also was not remotely expecting a dessert recipe with the name!
Becki says:
That sounds good. Fruit drained?
Brooke says:
Yep – fruit drained. It’s always been a potluck success.
AmazingGreis says:
Yum!
AmazingGreis says:
HEATHER….why do you hate yourself and your BAYBEEEEEE with all these non-nutritious meals?!?!
Don’t lie, I know you’re serving this every day at all meal times.
Oh, wait, this is nutritious it has FRUIT and marshmallows are fat free!
Kelly says:
Well this is silly, clearly you don’t understand read labels on food very well. This is not fruit, it’s CANNED…meaning that it is preserved in sugary syrup. If you read the label, 1/2 cup contains 16 grams of sugar – even if you drain it, that’s not healthy.
And yes, marshmallows are fat free, but they aren’t sugar free. Please don’t try to make this a healthy recipe, when it clearly isn’t. I’m Heather knows that, and she wasn’t trying to pass it off as such.
Brandey says:
Uh… maybe YOU buy the canned fruit in heavy syrup but I buy the fruit canned in natural juices. Much healthier.
michelle in mo says:
Heavenly hash made and has been sampled! One of my aunt’s makes a dish at Christmas that is huge green grapes and pecans with cream cheese/sour cream on them. I like this recipe just as much!
TonyaM says:
Looks delicious! Certainly better than the “hash” my mom used to fix which was some kind of meat/potato slop.
Maggie says:
Pssssssssssssh. I’d eat it for dinner. Just sayin. I *think* my now 15 yr old survived on butter and brown sugar sandwiches (don’t ask) and oatmeal for all of his third yr of life. He has lived to be a happy, healthy, normal, pain in the ass teenager. Whatever. Enjoy!!
Sherry says:
Ooooooo, I wanna make that asap! My little boys would devour it, for sure! I pinned it on Pinterest so I won’t forget about it. Thanks!!
Nikki says:
My favorite part of your recipes is, as usual, Annie’s thumbs up. So stinking cute!
Megan says:
Your heavenly hash is similar to something my friend used to make called ambrosia salad. We live in Virginia but her family is from New Hampshire so not sure where this originates. Anyway, it could have used any variety of canned fruits, but I think she mostly used pineapple, maraschino cherries (my favorite!), maybe mandarin oranges? She mixed them with baby marshmallows and coconut, and then the whole thing got mixed with…whipped cream. Ooh, yes.
And you think YOURS is unhealthy? Actually, if you used low-fat sour cream, it’d probably be a fairly healthy dessert/treat. I guess it’s the canned fruit that makes this an issue for someone with diabetes.
Emily says:
This looks awesome! My nan’s equivalent of this was banana custard which I haven’t had in years! I might have to make some.
Becki says:
Ok. Tried it tonight.
And just . ..did you leave something out? It just doesnt seem to “fit” together. Tastes like pineapple and pears smothered in sour cream .. the marshmallows help a bit . .but . . flat, and sour and the other stuff doesn’t add enough sweetness . .
And I CAN cook. I make many of these and thought this might be one to add to my repeat list . .
Some of my receipes usually add either sugar . .or T’s of orange juice . . y0gurt . .to the heavier items like sour cream, cream cheese .or even whip crea.
I am not looking for a sugar fix. It just tasted like .. sour cream.
Heather says:
nope, I didn’t leave anything out. How long did you let it refrigerate for? I HATE the taste of plain sour cream but I like this. Sometimes if it doesn’t get mixed enough or refrigerate long enough it still tastes sour.
Becki says:
Thanks for not being mad.
I LOVE sour cream and LOVE 4 item recipes.
Ok – maybe I did this part wrong: I used pineapple in natural syrup and Lite pears. Did that screw it up? Should they both be heavy syrup? I did mix it thoroughly . . ..
Also – made it for my parents – bringing it to them tomorrow so they will have a say. Thinking my Mom will love it but my Dad will be thinking its not sweet enough. But if Mom is happy then I am happy because Dad’s taste buds are the ones we usually cater to.
Becki says:
And yes I drained them, lol
Heather says:
hmmmm….I will ask my mom – she has way more experience making this than I do!
Linda (Annie's Grandma) says:
Becki
I would recommend you cut back and only use a 16 ounce container of the sour cream. But still use the same amount of pears, pineapples and marshmallows. I think you’ll taste the difference and it should be nice and sweet.
Becki says:
Thanks Linda. That actually sounds like it might work and give the pears a fighting chance.
My hubby and daughter liked the basics which is why I am workin on this, lol.
We have a voting system in our house for new recipes:
Worth repeating
Worth tweaking
Never again.
This one got a “worth tweaking” lol. Going to try that Linda.
stephanie says:
i just made it, its AWESOME. & i bet it will be even better when it’s had more time to chill!
Sarah says:
YUM!!! My grandma makes this too, but we call it Sweet Salad and have tinned mandarines in it
CJ says:
I make something like that but I also add banana’s, apples and canned mandarin oranges. Unless I am taking it to a party where it will be eaten right away, I just use the pineapple and mandarin oranges!
Try it next time! It is sooooo good.
Leah says:
I miss my gran too
AGirlNamedMe says:
So many variations!
We had the marshmallows, pineapple, and sour cream – but instead of pears, my mom would add maraschino cherries and canned mandarine oranges.
I loved it as a kid, but can’t imagine going near the stuff today!
Oh..and we liked it on the more wet side – so we reserved some of the pineapple juice for that.
Christian says:
I make something very similar but instead of pears I use mandarin oranges. It’s one of my favorite salads to make. My kids eat it up!
Lisa says:
I am teary eyed seeing this. I remeber my mom making this salad all the time when we were kids. It was called Water gate Ambrosia salad.
Tara says:
Yummy! That looks really tasty!
I just love Annie. Can I have her? Please?
Cleo says:
Love your blog, but the recipes make me cringe. Sorry. You need to check out a farmers market and get some fresh fruits and vegetables into your cooking. Or check out a whole foods market. The sugar content in this recipe alone is enough to fuel America’s obesity epidemic. I know these are from your Grandmother’s arsenal of recipes, but yikes.
Kaylee says:
Ugh. Cleo, really? What’s the point of leaving a comment like this? She has posted healthy recipes before. This isn’t a cooking blog, she’s chronicling learning how to cook. Get off your high horse.
Anna says:
For her next comment, Cleo will blame America’s drinking problem on Heather’s Sangria recipe.
edenland says:
Firstly – yum.
Secondly – you don’t do hash cones in the states? Because that’s all I thought of when I read this post, man. The hash cones I had in my twenties. Now I’m hungry.
Cherry says:
I love that you are making and chronically favored recipes from your childhood and beyond. I really should do this as well because my grandmother and mom didn’t cook much when I was growing up (dad took over the kitchen) but the treats they did make have stuck so hard in my memory as goodness and happy times.
donna says:
This is one of the cutest blog posts ever!
Tara says:
My little boy likes marshmallows, so I made this tonight. It’s in the fridge; can’t wait to try it!
I can’t figure out why anyone would make snide comments about this recipe. Most I’ve seen call for gross, processed instant pudding and/or Cool Whip. This is real sour cream! Sheesh
Tara says:
Just wanted to come back and comment after we made this and ate it. It came out great! I halved the recipe and mixed it very well, it was in the fridge for 2.5 hours. We couldn’t taste the sour cream at all.
My husband and son enjoyed this very much. So did I (you are right Heather, it is a nice dish to eat when you are pregnant and having morning sickness!).
Thanks!
Heather says:
YAY! So glad to hear you all liked it! And congrats!
Now I am craving this!
Tara says:
Thanks! We’ll definitely be making it again.
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