Family Recipe Friday - Thanksgiving Cranberry Salad

I've heard this called 'redneck cranberry salad' and 'cheating heart salad'. By whatever name you decide to call it, it is simply put, one of the most flavorful, and versatile, cranberry salads you can make.



I make this every year for both Thanksgiving and for Christmas. We sometimes also make traditional cranberry sauce, but my family really prefers this!

Ingredients

1 large	package of cherry jello
2 c	hot water
2 c	sugar
2 Tbsp	lemon juice
2 c	drained crushed pineapple (2 - 8oz cans) (juice reserved)
2 c	pineapple juice (use the reserved juice and add water to make 2 cup)
2 c	chopped cranberries
2	oranges (zest the peel and chop the fruit after removing the seeds and discarding)
1 c	pecans, chopped

Preparation

1

Boil the cup of water. Dissolve the jello in the hot water in an 13 x 9 in square pan mix well. Add the sugar, lemon juice and pineapple juice. Stir to dissolve well. [I use either a very large salad bowl or serving bowl, that can then be placed directly on the table or buffet during the meal and looks nice. I have even placed this is a trifle bowl, where it can be viewed for how lovely all the ingredients looks.

2

Add the remaining ingredients and mix. Chill overnight.

You can serve this dish with your savory meal, as the salad, or if you top with a little whipped topping, it even makes a sweet and tart dessert!