My good friend, Ana Marie, asked me if I was going to post any yummy Thanksgiving recipes on my blog. This one's for her!
This salad is a tradition in our family, even though this year I can't find the raw cranberries! Its a good thing that the canned whole cranberry sauce is also popular with the three of us who are going to be at the table.
Since this will be the Thanksgiving that we all are sacrificing our family gatherings for the health of the nation, it is just fine that I have to skip a year of this wonderful salad.
The family history is that my mom, Lila, was given the recipe by a dear friend who made her promise not to share with too many. It is always a favorite of those at the table, and the recipe is generally requested by all who enjoyed it.
Well, since that was over 50 years ago, I think its time to enhance other Thanksgiving tables with this delicious, fresh, crunchy cranberry dish!
It is best if you have a food processor for the grinding. My mom had a meat grinder, before the days of food processors, and that worked just fine.
Ingredients
1/2 pound raw cranberries - washed and picked over
1 large cored, unpeeled red apple
1 small unpeeled orange
1 cup sugar
1 large or two small lemon gelatin boxes
1 small can crushed pineapple
3/4 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup hot water
Grind the apple, orange and cranberries in food processor until evenly chopped but not pureed.
Place in large bowl and cover with sugar and let stand 2 hours. Do not mix in the sugar.
Add pineapple, celery and pecans. Dissolve gelatin in hot water and combine all.
Now if you want to go a bit fancy, you can use your favorite Thanksgiving mold and pour some into the mold. Or use a serving dish, or do both!
The recipe says it makes 10 servings, and there are always leftovers. We have all enjoyed a bowl as a snack the next day, or later after Thanksgiving dinner.
This year you can make Raw Cranberry Salad and share with our friends and neighbors to enjoy. A nice Thanksgiving gift!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
PS I'll add a photo next time I make it!