Thanksgiving ~ Cranberry Orange Relish

I just love Thanksgiving. It makes me so happy that this is a joyous holiday in this nation. It's all about family, thankfullness, gratitude, sharing a meal, reconciliations, embracing the lonely, even remembering those who traveled to our shores in 1620 so they would be free to worship the Lord in spirit and truth.

I believe people are truly thankful for the freedoms and prosperity we enjoy, though most do not realize that these blessings don't come out of thin air. Someone provides each one. When someone gives you a gift, you look them right in the eye and express your gratitude. When you are grateful, you are grateful TO someone. Someone is responsible for the giving of these gifts.

James 1:17 The Message: "Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light."

Psalm 107:31 The Message "So thank God for His marvelous love, for His miracle mercy to the children He loves."

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My favorite part of our traditional Thanksgiving meal is this lovely relish. It's a heritage recipe now because my children - living in three different states - make it for their Thanksgiving celebrations with their families. And I hope, one day, that my grandchildren will make it for their families.






For this recipe, you'll need 2 small packages of orange Jello or 1 large, 3 1/4 cups of water, I can of whole cranberry sauce, 1 can of mandarin oranges (drained), 3/4 cup of halved seedless red grapes, 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.

Bring 2 cups of the water to a boil. Meanwhile, put the whole cranberry sauce into a soup bowl and break it up with a fork so that it will incorporate well with the Jello. Put the Jello powder into a large pouring vessel. Add the broken up cranberry sauce right on top of the jello. When the 2 cups of water boil, pour onto the jello/cranberry mixture. Stir well. When the Jello powder is disolved, add the remaining 1 1/4 of cold water. Stir well. Note: your orange jello will appear red but still taste like orange. Refrigerate until it thickens and begins to gel.

Add the other fruits (drained oranges, grapes, and walnuts) to the Jello mixture at this time. Fold in so that the fruits are suspended in the Jello mixture.

At this point, transfer to one of your best glass serving bowls. Return to the refrigerator to complete gelling.

This is a refreshing, cool note to add to your Thanksgiving meal.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and remember Who to thank for all your blessings...............