Old Fashioned Watergate Salad is also known as Pistachio Pineapple Delight from back in the day.
This vintage recipe is one we love to serve a couple of times a year.
This vintage Jello pudding recipe would be perfect served on any holiday. We love it for Thanksgiving but we also serve it for Easter.
Mom and maybe even grandma will remember this fluffy pistachio pudding dessert recipe from the past.
Vintage Jello Dessert recipes
Vintage Jello pudding recipes bring back so many memories for me from when I was a child.
Whenever we had a big family get together for a holiday someone would always bring a Jell-O or pudding dessert recipe, like a Frozen Fruit Salad or my Old Fashioned Pink Salad recipe from out family recipe box.
We always serve a Chocolate Jello Pudding Pie for Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert. Or my mother in laws famous Green Jello Goo recipe.
Green Jello Goo is not the official name of the lime green Jello dessert recipe but that was what the kids called it when they were little and now for our family that is the name it is known by.
Unfortunately, that green Jello dessert recipe is a family secret and my mother in law has asked me not to share it while she is still with us.
There is a story that goes along with the reasoning behind that.
I think I have shared it somewhere here on the blog in the past and we are here to talk about this old-fashioned Watergate Salad recipe today.
How To Make Old Fashioned Watergate Salad
Watergate Salad is very easy to make. All you need to do is mix all of the ingredients in a bowl and chill before serving.
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz box instant pistachio pudding mix
- 20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice, undrained or it is very easy to make homemade crushed pineapple
- 2 cups Cool Whip topping, thawed
- 1 ½ cup mini marshmallows
- ½ cup chopped nuts (I used pecans but you can use walnuts if you prefer)
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl mix the pistachio pudding mix with the crushed pineapple and juice. Mix well until all of the powdered pudding mix is dissolved.
- Fold in the Cool Whip until combined well.
- Next, add the mini marshmallows and chopped nuts to the bowl. Gently fold the marshmallows and nuts into the mixture.
- Place the Watergate Salad into a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours but overnight is best.
- Serve topped with maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, and chopped nuts as a garnish if desired.
- Makes 8 ½ cup servings.
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Old Fashioned Watergate Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz box instant pistachio pudding mix
- 20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice (undrained)
- 2 cups Cool Whip topping (thawed)
- 1 ½ cup mini marshmallows
- ½ cup chopped nuts (I used pecans but you can use walnuts if you prefer)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl mix the pistachio pudding mix with the crushed pineapple and juice. Mix well until all of the powdered pudding mix is dissolved.
- Fold in the Cool Whip until combined well.
- Next, add the mini marshmallows and chopped nuts to the bowl. Gently fold the marshmallows and nuts into the mixture.
- Place the Watergate Salad into a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours but overnight is best.
- Serve topped with maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, and chopped nuts as a garnish if desired.
- Makes 8 ½ cup servings.
Nana Anna
I have really enjoyed your recipes. But when you mentioned that your mother in law doesn’t want you to share the family secret for the green jello I was really disappointed in that. How inconsiderate and rude of her and so many like her who don’t share. I call that selfish from the core. It’s not like she is some great TV star or famous. Even those people share. Isn’t that what being a thankful and considerate person is all about? Hmmmm… not judging her or you but I’ve been in the same situation with my mother-in-law (now she is gone) and she didn’t leave a written recipe to hand down even to her grandchildren. How sad. I on the other hand share my secrets for a special ingredient of any recipe to anyone who asks or even just put it out there so others can have. I even hand write mine on pretty recipe cards (like people used to do)and the people young and old who receive those handwritten recipes are so thankful for the time I take to do that.
Just a thought for you and your mother-in-law to ponder on. Then at least you can hear others verbally thank you and possibly even give you a physical hug when you share. ❤️🤗
Arlene Mobley
Hi Nana I feel the same way you do! I have taught all of my children how to make the family recipes they have grown up enjoying. I have her green jello recipe. I have been making it for the past few holiday seasons. I have shared her aunts Pink Jell-O Salad recipe here.
Lucy Beliveau
Watergate Salad is a favorite around here and I make it often! Sometimes, I share it with my dear neighbors! We just moved to a pretty house on a street called Morning Glory Lane, (I passionately have named our home, Morning Glorious!) but I have yet to share Watergate salad with my new friends. Your post made me think about doing so!
I just sent my email in to receive your lovely recipes because I am quite taken with those I found that are in their hand written form! What a pleasure it will be to make some of those!
Thank you for the time you have taken to post such a pretty and useful blog!
Fondly, Lucy
Susan
I love this salad I have fond memories of this as a kid. Thank you for sharing on Happiness is Homemade
Arlene Mobley
Thanks, Susan
It is one of our favorites.
Jenny
This looks yummy! Jello was always at my family gatherings when I was younger. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Kim~madeinaday
Looks fabulous! Sharing! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim