Grape Salad

By MaryEllen

I got this recipe from my friend Linda in Lexington, KY. My husband had visited her for a cook-out on a bike ride across the country. He came home raving about ‘this grape thing’ she made. I had to e-mail her and get the recipe. It really is that good! It makes a lot so it’s great for a large gathering or a pot luck dinner. Remember, the grapes have to be dry, dry, dry. D- at the lake

From the submitter on RDJ 8/1/14

I got this recipe from my friend Linda in Lexington, KY. My husband had visited her for a cook-out on a bike ride across the country. He came home raving about ‘this grape thing’ she made. I had to e-mail her and get the recipe. It really is that good! It makes a lot so it’s great for a large gathering or a pot luck dinner. Remember, the grapes have to be dry, dry, dry. D- at the lake
I got this recipe from my friend Linda in Lexington, KY. My husband had visited her for a cook-out on a bike ride across the country. He came home raving about ‘this grape thing’ she made. I had to e-mail her and get the recipe. It really is that good! It makes a lot so it’s great for a large gathering or a pot luck dinner. Remember, the grapes have to be dry, dry, dry. D- at the lake

Ingredients

• 2lb.2 lb. seedless white grapes
• 2lb.2 lb. seedless red grapes
• 8oz.8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1c.1 c. sour cream
• 1/2c.1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 1/2t.1/2 t. vanilla extract
• 1c.1 c. chopped pecans
• 1/2c.1/2 c. brown sugar

Preparation

Step 1

Wash and COMPLETELY dry grapes thoroughly, and mix together in a large bowl.
Mix the next four ingredients together. Gently fold mixture into the dry grapes.
Pour the mixture into a 9” X 13” dish and pat down mixture (don't mush).

Toast the pecans in a dry frying pan or on low in the oven, less than 10 minutes. Chop into small pieces.
Mix the brown sugar with toasted pecans and sprinkle over the grape mixture. Chill thoroughly, before serving … overnight is best.

Tips:
You can use low fat or nonfat sour cream and cream cheese; they work just fine. The real fat stuff is a little better, but not much.
I’m not kidding about the grapes being dry! Pat and roll them on paper towels if you don’t have a long time for them to air dry. The mixture doesn’t stick to them if the grapes are wet.
The pecans burn easily. When they smell fragrant, stop toasting or the next minute they will smell and taste burnt!
I use a glass cake pan (9” x 13”) since it looks very pretty through the glass.
It really should be chilled overnight.

Cooks note: I reduced the brown sugar to 1/2 cup. Other recipes use the same amount of cream cheese/sour cream mixture with only 2 pounds of grapes. This really makes a LOT of salad (dessert!)