Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Fruit Salad with Sour Cream-Grenadine Dressing

Ingredients

2 Tbs fresh lemon juice

2 Tbs sugar

1 banana, peeled and sliced into ½ inch round pieces*

1 large red delicious apple, core removed, medium dice (about 1 ½ cups)*

1 cup red seedless grapes

1 1/2 cups  green seedless grapes

2 cups fresh pineapple, skin and core removed, medium dice

½ cup orange segments

1 1/2 cup         cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and small dice

1 pint                fresh strawberries, hull removed and berries quartered

3/4 cup            sour cream

2 Tbsp              Grenadine

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon juice and sugar. Toss the apples and bananas in the mixture to prevent them from turning brown. Add the remaining fruit. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sour cream and grenadine. Add the sour cream mixture to the fruit and stir together, coating the fruit completely. Hold covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just before serving, toss the fruit once more to redistribute the dressing.

Yield: 8-10 servings

* Do not cut the banana or apple until the lemon juice and sugar are combined. Place the fruit into the lemon juice mixture as soon as it is cut.

Recent Recipes

Potato Gratin

Potatoes are the one vegetable I could never give up. Fried, roasted, mashed, or scalloped—doesn’t matter, they’re always on the table in one form or another. This gratin is my favorite way to make them feel a little more special. It’s rich, creamy, and just decadent enough to make it feel like you’re putting in some extra effort. There’s a good bit of cheese in this recipe, but that’s exactly how it should be. The combination of sharp white Cheddar, gruyere, and Parmesan gives it the perfect balance of nuttiness, creaminess, and tang. And using Yukon gold potatoes instead of russets makes a big difference. They have just the right amount of starch to get creamy without getting mushy. This dish is a showstopper on the holiday table, but I’d eat it on a random Tuesday without hesitation.

Read more

Orange Cranberry Muffins

These muffins are like Christmas morning in a bite—bright, citrusy orange paired with tart, bursting cranberries. The combination feels like something you'd find in a festive basket dropped off by a thoughtful neighbor. Perfect for Christmas gift giving or to have on hand for guests throughout the holiday.

Read more

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more