Cranberry-Pineapple Salad

With the holiday season starting this week, you may be looking for a different way to serve your cranberry dish, (something other than just opening up a can from the shelf).  This is a dish that's festive, refreshing, easy to make, and our family request several times a year, (and there's never any leftovers).

You will need:
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple in it's own juice
2 packs (3 oz each) red jello (strawberry, raspberry, cherry, or cranberry flavor - your choice)
1 cup (whole berry) cranberry sauce
1 medium sized pear
2/3 cup chopped nuts

 First, drain the juice from the crushed pineapple.

Add enough cold water to the pineapple juice to measure 3 cups.   Add the liquid to a sauce pan and bring to a boil, (or heat in a microwave).

Pour the dry gelatin into a medium bowl.

Add the hot liquid to the gelatin.

Note:  The flavor of jello you use is whatever kind your family likes.  If you are cutting back on sugar, you can use sugar free jello, (that is what I am using today).

 Stir until completely dissolved.  Place mixture in the refrigerator for one hour, to cool and just start to gel.

 It's been one hour, and the jello just starts to coat a spoon when you dip the spoon into the jello mixture.

Core the pear, cut into quarters, (length wise), and slice into thin slices.


Note:  you can change up what type of fruit you add to this salad, (just like you can change what flavor gelatin you use).  Sometimes I use apple and celery or carrots.

Add the crushed pineapple to the jello mixture.

 Add the 1 cup of whole berry cranberry sauce to the jello mixture.

 Note:  You can use homemade cranberry sauce, (which is what I am using today), or you can use store bought canned.  But, you have to use whole berry cranberry sauce.  If you make a good cranberry sauce, then by all means, use it.  This is a good way to use up leftover cranberry sauce.

 Add the sliced pear to the jello mixture.

 Add the chopped nuts.


Note:  you can use whatever kind of nuts your family likes.  Sometimes I use pears and pecans, or apple, celery and walnuts.  It's your salad - so make it your own.

 Give the jello a good stir.

 If you want to mold the salad, now is the time to pour it into your mold.  Otherwise, just leave it in your bowl

Refrigerate for about 4 hours until the firm.

 It's been 4 hours, and my gelatin is now set up.

I just dip my pan in a little warm water for a couple of minutes to loosen it, turn if over on a plate.

 And my cranberry-pineapple salad is ready to eat.

 Sometimes I just serve my salad in a pretty glass bowl.

When you cut a slice of the salad, you can see the pineapple, pear, cranberries, and nuts.  It has the sweetness from the jello, the slight tartness from the cranberry, and the wonderful fruit.  Kids think of this as a fun dessert, adults like the addition of the fruit and nuts with the jello and cranberries.

So mix up your favorite flavors and give the jello salad a try.

Enjoy !