Another 1950s Picture Salad: Candle Salad

Back in the 50s picture salads were popular and this one, perhaps, the most popular one of all. One-half of a banana and a pineapple slice makes an upright candle which can be trimmed in a number of ways. This version comes from Penzey's monthly magazine. An alternate version is given below; it comes from a church cookbook.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Yields: 4 candles

Ingredients

• 2  bananas
•  lettuce
• 4  slices  canned pineapple (or make rings from fresh pineapple)
• 4  orange  gumdrops
• 4  ounces cream cheese (1/2 of 8 oz. pkg.)
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Blend the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon together with a mixer. Reserve.
2. Peel bananas and cut in half crosswise. Remove the tips.
3. Divide the lettuce among 4 plates Place a pineapple ring in the center of each plate. Fill the center with reserved cream cheese mixture. Place a banana (pointed end up) upright in the center of pineapple ring. Top the banana with a gumdrop "flame." Squeeze a little cream cheese m mixture onto the tip of each "candle" to represent wax.
4. NOTE: As an alternate to the cream cheese mixture above, mix two tablespoons mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon peanut butter. Pour over "candle." Use a maraschino cherry for the "flame" instead of the gumdrop.