Pear Salad

You won’t find a simpler side dish on a Southerner’s Easter table than nostalgic Pear Salad. But, don’t let the name fool you; this recipe won’t remind you of a leafy green salad or chopped fresh fruit. In fact, Southern Pear Salad is made with lettuce, canned pears, mayonnaise, Cheddar cheese, and maraschino cherries (really!).

It’s a recipe that may sound a little outside-the-box, but ask any born-and-bred Southerner – they’ve likely seen this on Nana’s table growing up. And, it’s worth a try. This no-fail recipe doesn’t require any bake time or prep, and is super inexpensive to prepare.

Grab a can of canned pears, pull out your jar of Duke’s, and shred a little Cheddar to make this pear-mayonnaise concoction. Each canned pear half gets a dollop of mayonnaise, a sprinkling of cheese, and a cherry garnish. When you’re ready to serve, arrange the pears on a few leaves of lettuce for a decorative touch.