Holiday Spiced Orange and Cranberry salad

 

 Ok for starters, the amazing smell that perfumes your kitchen as you make this salad makes it  well worth trying!

The sweet smell of cranberries with the tart-fresh squeezed orange juice, and kick of cinnamon and clove will put you right in the mood for Christmas!

This gorgeous salad is such a sweet addition to your Holiday meal, you will just love it.

I hope you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

Recipe: Holiday spiced orange and cranberry salad
Recipe source: Emmy in her Element
 

1 cup water

1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple
1 cup of pineapple juice (reserved from the crushed pineapple)

1 large box (6 oz) raspberry Jell-O mix

1 teaspoon orange zest

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (depending on how much you like cinnamon!)

a pinch of ground clove

1 can whole berry- cranberry sauce (I like ocean spray brand)

2/3 cup walnuts chopped

2 medium apples peeled and chopped into bite sized chunks (tart apples are best, I use pink lady)

 

Strain and reserve juice from crushed pineapple. Let pineapple continue to drain until all it's juice has been separated.

Combine water, orange juice, and pineapple juice in medium sauce pan. Add orange zest, cinnamon and clove. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and dissolve raspberry Jell-O. Add cranberry sauce and stir until dissolved. Pour into a bowl and let chill in the fridge for 2 hours. While Jell-O is still in "soft serve" form, add chopped walnuts, crushed pineapple and apple chunks. Let chill until firm, about another 2 hours. I love to make this salad a day ahead, to ensure that it sets up firm in time to serve. Make sure and leave yourself plenty of time to let it set.

 

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I love how food can bring Families together for the Holidays. No matter your status, religion, ethnicity or view, there should always be a time of year when your family comes together to share time and love. For my family, good food always accompanies us... just another reason why it is such a special part of my life.

Happy Holidays.