Elegant Orange Jello Salad

I suppose it speaks to my Midwestern roots that I love jello salads. This orange fluff salad was my mother's favorite -- she named it.  It's made with mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, and cool whip. On the recipe card for this one, my mother had a note --  "a hit with everyone!" 

serves 8 to 10 

1 1/2 cups water
1 - small box of orange jello
1 - 12 oz. Cool Whip
1 large can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained
2 - (15 oz.) cans of mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup sweet flaked coconut (optional)
1 cup mini marshmallows (optional)

Directions:

Start with 3/4 cups of hot water in a liquid measuring cup.  Add jello and stir until dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to make 1-1/2 cups.

The jello is still in liquid form but will start to thicken as the ice cools the mixture.

In a large mixing bowl, add the cool whip, then the jello mixture.  With a whisk, stir until combined.  Next, stir in the pineapple & coconut.
Finally, add the mandarin oranges & marshmallows folding in gently so as to not break up the oranges.

Chill for at least half an hour.