This looks alot like my grandma's Watergate salad recipe. Instead of making the pudding according to the box, try folding it into the whipped topping. Then fold in the other ingredients.

DO NOT mix the pistachio pudding per the box directions. This will produce the soup like consistency described in some of the other reviews. Mix in the dry pudding mix only!

This turned out like soup. I tried adding more marshmallows but that didn't help. I think this recipe should read DO NOT prepare pudding according to directions, it should use only the pudding powder, not adding the 2 cups of milk like the pudding directions state. Very dissapointing, especially when making it for a house full of company. Embarassing to have it come out like soup.

Recipe is flawed!! You MUST drain the pineapple and DO NOT prepare the pudding mix. Cut bananas turn brown overnight in the fridge, omit or add just before serving.

I added some yogurt and next time I would drain the pineapple instead of putting the juice in. Other than that it was awesome!

Yummy! Just like Grandma used to make. I omitted the bananas as I wanted to be able to eat leftovers without having brown, mushy bananas. If I knew I wouldn't have leftovers, I would have put them in. I didn't put the nuts in because my family are not nuts over nuts. I did, however, add a medium can of mandarin oranges. It added a little color and gave the flavor a boost. I drained them first as not to add too much liquid to the mix.

I tried this recipe for my Daycare kids, and they loved it. Very easy to make in a matter of minutes, which is great for a daycare provider. We used the pineapple juice and did not put the banana in the salad. The kids loved it so much, they wanted more for their after nap snack.

I am laughing while I read all these reviews. You all figured it out. You need to use the pudding mix; not prepared, skip the bananas & drain the pineapple. My mother has made this for every Thanksgiving dinner I can remember. My aunt made the mistake of offering to make it about 6 years ago but when my mother gave her the recipe, she didn't tell her to skip the juice & just use the mix, don't make the pudding. To this day, my mother denies sabbotaging my aunt those years ago when she showed up with a green soupy mess. Thanks for the laugh.

This recipe was AWESOME! The flavors and textures worked well. What I did was drained the pineapple juice from the fruit and only used 1 cup of the juice. I blended the pudding with the juice until thick ( almost right away) and then added just a wee bit more juice to the pudding and blended until thick but smooth. I also added 1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract to the pudding. Then adding the pineapple into the pudding I folded in the whipped topping. I completed this with the bananas and I used roasted diced up pistachios instead of walnuts. I will make this all year round!

I took the advice of another reviewer and mixed the pudding with the pineapple juice. I did not use bananas at all. I did add 1/3 cup of coconuts. Good! I will only make this recipe with large holiday dinners.

I must have done something wrong when I tried this recipe for Memorial Day. It came out like soup. I was expecting something light and fluffy.

I followed the recipe exactly. i wanted to make it for thanksgiving. It turned out like soup! it was so runny even after i refridgerated it overnite! Ive checked other recipes and they all use dry pudding mix and drain the pineapple. this was the only recipe i found that has you prepare the pudding first. needless to say i didnt serve it and wasted time and money!

UGH. Soupy isn't the word for it. It was terrible!! IF, you use dry pudding mix, and apples instead of the pineapple, or at LEAST take the syrup off the pineapple, it will be better. I tried it again, doing that, and it was eatable, but I'll never try it again.

I think the recipe needs a few adjustments: Make sure you stir the pudding in with the pineapples and their juice and let it thicken a little. Next, I used 2c mini marshmellows and omitted the banana. It came out the with a good frothy texture after letting it chill for several hours and was enjoyed by MOST members of my family.

I love this recipe, it is quick and easy. There is no cooking involved so even kids can do it.