aunt brenda's cranberry jello salad

I'm sure your family get-togethers are just like ours.  There are just certain dishes everyone looks forward to and certain assignments individual family members are expected to fill, without being asked.  Great Aunt Louise's Deviled Eggs, Ma's Springerles, Mamaw's Dressing, and one of my all-time favorites, Aunt Brenda's Cranberry Jello Salad.  Friends near and far... I could eat my weight in this stuff.  It is so, so delicious and versatile.  I love it on a Heavenly Yeast Roll, alongside ham, right next to Turkey Pot Pie, you name it.  It is tangy, crunchy, just-enough sweet... it's perfect, and it would be beautiful in a mold.

And speaking of Springerles, last night marked the official beginning of Christmas, because I broke out the special rolling pin and made a few dozen of 'em.  Christmas really isn't Christmas until the slight smell of Anise is drifting about.  The boys had gone to a friend's all day, so they didn't know until we arrived home from evening church that I had cooked them, as well as three batches of Heavenly Yeast Rolls and Dad's 60th birthday cake - it's a beaut... Dark Chocolate Chocolate Cake!  I cannot WAIT to slice into it, grab a picture and feature it here.  At any rate, the boys were pretty excited to smell the chaos.

I'm telling you, rolling out cookies, having a fire, the TV tuned to Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas, and the boys wrapping gifts - all in the same room - was a delightful mess.  It really was.  Thank you, God, for such moments!

Aunt Brenda's Cranberry Jello Salad

printable version

• 2 cans whole berry cranberry sauce
• 2 3oz cherry Jello
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 2 stalk diced celery
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
• full amount of water called for to dissolve one jello

1. Dissolve jello in water and stir in remaining ingredients.

2. Cover and cool in refrigerator until set. 

Recipe from Aunt Brenda.