Chunk Fruit Salad

This quick and refreshing 4-fruit salad is one of my favorites for last minute dishes for group picnics or potluck dinners. It's easy to make any time of year because the fresh fruits in it are always available anywhere. And the combination of reds and yellows of the fruits make it very pretty to serve. I've found it always to be a hit! Of course, if you like, you can throw in additional ingredients according your tastes to make it uniquely yours. To make this quick and refreshing chunky 4-fruit salad...

Instructions

1. • 1
     Assemble your ingredients: (this will make about 16 servings of 1/2 cup each)

     2 - 8 ounce cans of pineapple chunks
     two medium size bananas (ripe, but firm)
     two medium size red delicious apples (or another type of sweet apple), washed
     2 - 8 ounce packages (box or tub) of frozen strawberries
   • 2
     Start thawing the strawberries in the sink by submerging the packages in very hot water or in the microwave on the defrost setting (make sure you don't cook them!). It's fine if they don't get thawed completely, just get them loosened up enough to break apart with a fork or knife.
   • 3
     Empty the cans of pineapple chunks (with juice) into a 4 quart bowl.
   • 4
     Cut the apples into pieces and discard the the core and seeds. Cut the pieces into 1/2 inch wide slices and then cut the slices into 1/2 inch thick chunks. (The measurement can be rough, you just don't want them too small.) Add the apples to the bowl.
   • 5
     Take the peeled bananas and cut it in half lengthwise. Then cut those lengths into chunks about 1/2 inch thick. Add the bananas to the bowl.
   • 6
     Check the strawberries. They should have loosened up a bit in the package by now. If it's a tub, use a fork or knife to break the strawberries apart and into chunks. It's fine if the chunks are still partly frozen.

     If the strawberries are in a boxed package, you'll need to empty them into a separate bowl to break them apart into chunks.
   • 7
     Add the strawberries (with the juice) to the other fruits in the large bowl. Then mix them all together, continuing to break apart the strawberries as they thaw. This typically produces a pretty bubbly froth in the salad.
   • 8
     Keep covered and refrigerated until ready to serve. You can add other ingredients, as you like, such as walnuts or grapes or whatever you want to experiment with. If you have any leftover, this quick and refreshing chunky 4-fruit salad keeps well for a day or two in the fridge, although the strawberry juice will start turning the the other fruits red!