Hearts of Palm Salad with Ice Cream Dressing

This is the famous salad dressing for
the hearts of palm salad with fruit
offered at the Island Hotel at Cedar Key.
Bessie Gibbs, former owner of the hotel,
invented the dressing years ago.

Serves 4

Salad:
4 cups thinly sliced iceberg or green leaf lettuce
1 cup diced pineapple (preferably fresh)
1/2 cup pitted dates
1 tablespoon minced candied ginger
2 cups thinly sliced hearts of palm, preferably fresh

Ice Cream Dressing:
1/3 cup vanilla ice cream, softened slightly
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 to 2 drops green food coloring


1. In a large mixing bowl, toss the lettuce with the
pineapple, dates, candied ginger, and half of the hearts
of palms. Arrange this mixture on 4 salad plates, in shallow
bowls, or on a platter.

2. Prepare the dressing: Combine all of the ingredients
in a blender and blend to a paste.

3. Spoon the dressing over the salad and garnish with the
remaining hearts of palm.

Source: Miami Spice by Steven Raichlen