For all you cooks who aren't afraid to experiment: Which of these ingredients (if any) would you combine?

Looking for a light dessert to cool down a hot southwestern dinner. I'm also hoping to save myself a trip to the store, but I'd like something a little more "kicked up" than just plain pudding or jello.



In the spirit of "waste not, want not" here are the ingredients already on hand - do you see any combinations you'd be willing to try? Thanks!



Vanilla Pudding

Lemon Jello

Canned pears in light syrup

Apricot Nectar

Pecan halves

Coconut, shredded

Kraft whipped topping

For all you cooks who aren't afraid to experiment: Which of these ingredients (if any) would you combine?
Vanilla Pudding (Finsih the recipe and let it get firm)

Put nice looking DAB or Dollop as we call it on top of it in a nice dessert glass or small bowl and sprinkle the coconut (lightly toated on top of it)



other:

Drain the pears place in the bottom of the pan/dish pour the jello over top of them let it set up and once again add whipped topping on the top.



other:

Whipped topping (I'm guessing the stuff in the plastic tub not the can) has to be a little soft, add the powder of the lemon jello to it.. use half at first... and if you need more add it stir it in until smooth but don't over beat it. Slice up those pears (better to dice in this situation) and a hand full of that coconut, add it to that.. Let it get firm again in the fridge . Maybe lightly toast some of the coconut again for the top to sprinkle on and MAYBE if your feeling froggy, toast those pecans a little bit, let them cool crush them up and lightly sprinkle on top.



Cooking on the fly is fun!

Peace
Reply:Mix up the jello and let thicken a little bit, then fold in a cup or half-cup of whipped topping and pour it into moulds/containers/bowls, etcetera to set.



Unmould them onto a plate and serve with a canned pear on top and a dab of whipped topping mixed with a little pear juice for taste. Either that or thin down the pudding with a little milk or mix with whipped topping to make a sauce.
Reply:Okay

I would take vanilla pudding and prepare it but using a small bit less liquid (you can use the apricot nectar if you wish, like half milk half nectar). Then add the pears w/o the syrup and chopped up. And then add the pecan halves and let it set up hard. Sprinkle the coconut on top and spread the whipped topping on.
Reply:OK let's see..

i will go for lemon jello and the Kraft whipped topping sound great to me!
Reply:Of course!!



Drain the canned pears, mix in half the lemon jello powder to thicken up any left over juices. Put in fridge for as long as you can (preferably over night)



Make the vanilla pudding, put in fridge also.



Take out pears, Mix in half the whipped topping into pears and jello and crush the pecans and add them too.



Pour over vanilla pudding right before serving. YUM!!! Sorry don't like coconut, but if you do put some on top!



This recipe is best used with mixed fruit in light syrup, but I can't see why pears wouldn't work.
Reply:None of these would be terrible together...

What you need is some substance, like plain cookies, cake mix...

but if you've just got these ingredients, I'd try to use the pears first. You could cut them into small cubes and mix them in with the pudding. Or you could use the Apricot nectar and use it to mix in the Jello instead of water. Again, here you could cut pear pieces into it.... serve either one with the whipped topping - should make for a light, cooling desert.
Reply:do you have egg whites and sugar?



if so, i would make small meringues ( the slow cooked kind, that melt in your mouth, not the kind that is on top of pie) and serve them as little cookies with the fresh pears.



fancier? chop up the pecans as fine as you can get, and include them as an ingredient in the meringues.
Reply:Mix the lemon jello up using the apricot nectar instead of water, or half water and half nectar. When almost set, add the can of drained pears diced. Add cool whip to the top when completely set. Never tried it, but let me know how it turns out
Reply:I would say mix the vanilla pudding with the pecan halves and top it off with the coconut...



Or mix the Jello with the pears (drained) and top with the whipped topping :)



..ok, now im craving something sweet!
Reply:I'm just going to throw out some suggestions. I do this all the time when I want something sweet and don't want to go to the store. Here it goes:



Suggestion 1:

Bake your coconut and use it as a bottom layer as you would a pie crust. You would need to get it pretty thick but make sure you don't burn it. Next, put your vanilla pudding on top of the coconut. The pudding should sink into the coconut to hold he shreds together. Then add the whipped topping and top that with crushed pecans.



Suggestion 2:

If you have some brown sugar you could drain your pears coat lightly with some butter and brown sugar and bake in the oven at about 350 degrees for about 20 mins or so.



Suggestion 3:

You could make the lemon jello and when it is slightly firm add your pears. If you add them too early the fruit will sink to the bottom. Too late, and they will only be on top. You could top with whipped topping if you like.



Hope this helps. Good luck.
Reply:Southern Ambrosia Parfait



INGREDIENTS:



* 1/2 cup orange sections

* 1/2 cup pineapple chunks

* 1/2 cup sliced bananas

* 1/2 cup flaked coconut -- toast if desired

* 2 tablespoons chopped pecans

* 1 package instant vanilla pudding, prepared -- (4-serving size)

* whipped topping -- optional



PREPARATION:

In a medium bowl, mix orange sections, pineapple, and sliced banana. In a separate bowl, combine pecans with coconut. In a parfait glass, alternate layers of fruit, coconut pecan mixture, and pudding. Sprinkle with coconut for garnish.



Omit the banana, orange, and pineapple, and substitute the pears, but drained.
Reply:vaanilla pudding with pecan halves shredded coconut
Reply:You could make up the pudding. Then take and mix all the other ingredients (just dry jello, don't make it) and spread this on top of your pudding. Just make sure you don't add too much liquid, you want your topping to be thick.
Reply:Lemon Jello

Canned pears in light syrup

Drain the pears and save the juice Slice pears into wedges

Prepare the Jello with the pear juice in the right amount instead of water but heat it in the microwave. On the box of Jello use ice cubes quick set method, so only heat about 3/4 cup of pear juice.

add Jello crystals to this and stir until dissolved. Great flavour.

Add one cup ice cubes and stir into hot Jello mixture

Place into refrigerator until slightly set and then add your sliced pears and return to fridge to set. When you see the Jello setting, at this point you can whip Jello with mix master into bubbles and add your pears to the bubble Jello . Cool again until firmly set.with the pears inside it. The bubble method is just another visual appearance.
Reply:Throw in all of em except the lemon jello, sounds yummy!
Reply:the topping, coconut, pcan, canned pears, and the apricot nectar. As for the jello and oudding, they are good by themsekves or with the apricot nectar.
Reply:carmalized pears with roasted pecans
Reply:lemon Jello made in a shallow pan...when completely set... cut jello in to cubes and mix with whipped topping.



vanilla pudding made as directed.add slightly toasted shredded coconut top with whipped cream



Jello made as directed ,add drained pears.let set
Reply:shredded coconut with vanilla pudding MMM.



Canned Pears with pecan halves... MMM.



Lemon Jello with Whipped Topping



then just some apricot nectar to top it off! LOL MMM
Reply:Lemon jello, pears. Lemon jello with 1/2 apricot nectar instead of 1/2 of water. I don't think apricot and pears would work together.