Tiny Treasures and Fresh Cranberry Salad
As you go through the day, look for tiny treasures strategically placed along the way. -Sarah Young
Especially this time of year, the hustle and bustle of the season can really wear us down! I love the quote that reminds us to find the treasures in each day.
A few weeks ago I was in Bend, Oregon with my family. Each day I really looked for things that reminded me to be grateful. The little pleasures that brighten a day.
(On a walk with Haggis, our Cairn Terrier.)
Our family really gets in to shopping at Good Will (it’s fun in other cities), so on one quick trip to town, I found a lovely bowl for the “special” salad I was going to make for dinner.
Special holiday salad
Cranberry salad is perfect for the holidays. I love it for Christmas – it reminds me of my mother and my Aunt Barbara, who made this salad every year. Every year … I really don’t think they ever missed a year. My Aunt Barb still makes it, and her daughters. :)
Make the day before
I prepared the fresh berries in my KitchenAid food processor a day ahead.
My helper in the kitchen.
Then we added the grapes, nuts, and whipped cream.
And served.
Happy kids, great food, treasured time with the family.
I didn’t have to look far on this day for the blessings of family, but I did have to hunt down the bowl in the Good Will store. :)
Does your family have a traditional salad they make during the holidays?
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Recipe: Holiday Fresh Cranberry Salad {ReluctantEntertainer.com}
Summary: Nostalgic fresh cranberry salad that is perfect for the holidays, making me think of my Aunt Barbara and mom, Millie.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. fresh cranberries, coarsely ground
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 1 1/2 lb. seedless grapes, cut in 1/2
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
- Mix together the cranberries and sugar and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
- In a large bowl, add the cranberry mixture.
- Cut the grapes in half. It may be necessary to press into a sieve to remove most of the juice. Add to the cranberry mixture.
- Whip 1 cup whipping cream. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. The whipping cream should be really stiff. Fold into the cranberry mixture.
- Chill the salad.
- Leftovers can be frozen and served as a frozen salad later.
Preparation time: 15 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 12
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I was craving this salad this Thanksgiving and vowed to make it for Christmas. I have a vitamix, will this work for cranberries? We did buy a meat grinder at an estate sale because this is how our Moms ground them! What would you use? Thanks for sharing!
My aunt made the same jello salad every Thanksgiving too. She passed away and I still make it,. Ours is made with a cream cheese cherry dressing. Love it and the memories!
My previous reply was for Sherry regarding the green jello.
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Cranberry ANYTHING this time of year is good with me. But this salad looks especially beautiful – a great holiday dish!
I really want to try this, it is similar to one my mother-in-law makes and it is so delicious. You have such a gorgeous family!
My mom always made something she called “Lime Salad” that is lime jello, crushed pineapple, chopped pecans, cottage cheese (and it used to have a cup of mayo in it but I leave that out to make it lighter). I am the only one in the family that still makes it and I LOVE it! I always make it for Christmas and it is very pretty on the table – green instead of red like yours. My mom has been gone several years now and I always think of her when I make it. I am so glad she and I made it together for many years because the recipe was not written down. Family tradition recipes are so special! Thanks for sharing yours with all of us!
We make this salad every year too except without the grapes!
I love a salad like this, especially with the crunch of the nuts.
Oooo Sandy I love that color! So pretty on the table.
Finally found a cousin that had my late MIL’s “green jello” salad recipe. It is a favorite of several in our extended family members and a must at family gatherings. Can’t wait to try yours as cranberries are a favorite among our family, it looks yummy and I’m sure there will be no leftovers!
Amazing, I would just eat this with a spoon…all to myself!
We always make this “holiday cranberry salad” — a cranberry Jell-O combination that’s topped with a sour cream/cream cheese mixture: http://unsophisticook.com/cranberry-salad-recipe/
I love that yours uses fresh cranberries though. We’ll definitely give it a try!
I have to make this! I use to make a another sweet cranberry salad, but with pineapple and jello, not nearly as good as this!
And your family is so cute!
We always do a Jell-O mold that my Mimi made up and I LOVE it! My sister and I would eat the whole thing in one sitting :)
Awww…what a sweet post! Your family is so beautiful, Sandy! The cranberry salad looks delicious. I always make a salad I call “Christmas Salad”. Basically it’s a simple green salad with dried cranberries and goat cheese added. My family loves it!