Spiced Cranberry Salad

“In places like Hollis, New Hampshire, they wouldn’t dream of serving a holiday turkey without stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry Jell-O® gelatin salad.”

Unspecified Boston-area publication, circa 1980

Spiced Cranberry Salad
1 package (6 oz.) JELL-O® Brand Raspberry Flavor Gelatin
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of cloves
2 cups boiling water
2 cans (8 oz. each) whole berry cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons grated orange rind (optional)
1 cup diced canned orange sections
1 cup chopped apple

Dissolve gelatin, salt, cinnamon and cloves in boiling water. Add cranberry sauce and orange rind and stir until dissolved. Refrigerate until gelatin reaches egg white consistency. Fold in orange sections and apple and pour into a 6-cup mold. Refrigerate overnight or until salad sets. Unmold and serve, adding garnish if desired.

Original Recipe: Spiced Cranberry Ring
from a Boston-area publication, circa 1980

1 package (6 oz.) JELL-O® Brand Raspberry Flavor Gelatin
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of cloves
2 cups boiling water
2 cans (8 oz. each) whole berry cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons grated orange rind (optional)
1 cup diced orange sections
1 cup chopped apple

Dissolve gelatin, salt, cinnamon and cloves in boiling water. Add cranberry sauce…. [end of clipping]

Comments: A new favorite for the holidays!

While we were preparing the Thanksgiving menu, my mom and I found this recipe on the back of a clipping she had saved from a news magazine in the Boston area. We can’t identify the publication or exactly when it was printed, but the font and layout are very similar to others from the 1980s. And those weren’t the only unknowns! Because my mom had intended to cut out the recipe on the following page, only part of the method for this salad is visible. I created and followed the steps above with good results.

While I think that the recipe is great as is, I did make one small change to the ingredients. I substituted canned oranges for fresh oranges. Not only is this cheaper, it also negates the need to carefully remove the pith from the orange sections, which add an unwanted texture.

Finally, a note about presentation. When I make this again, I will add some sort of garnish! Our Thanksgiving was a busy one, and I didn’t have time to present the dish in the way that I had hoped. Despite the salad’s vibrant color, the plate looked a little bare without lettuce, cranberries, or orange supremes.