So a little back story This is a dish my great aunt on my dad's side would always bring to the family dinner at our house on Thanksgiving. My dad has the recipe and my sister made it for Thanksgiving this year. I had a holiday dinner with a bunch of friends last night and decided to bring this to the meal.
Is it good? Weird but yes it's good. But half of my enjoyment of it is really more nostalgia than anything.
So here it is! And contrary to what a lot of my friends assume when they hear the name, you don't use cherry Coke. This recipe has been made in my family for long before cherry Coke was invented.
Cherry Coke Salad
2 pkg (4-serving-size) black cherry flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 can Coca Cola
1 cup cherry liquid, make up the needed liquid with more Coca Cola
1 can seedless black cherries (drain and reserve liquid)
1/2 cup broken pecans
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1/3 cup chopped celery
8 oz cream cheese, chopped into small chunks
Juice of 1 lemon
Put gelatin in a bowl and add hot water, stir until gelatin is dissolved. Add Coke and reserved cherry juice. Add lemon juice and place mixture in refrigerator: allow to gel completely. When mixture has gelled fully, use a spoon to break up into small chunks: add cherries, pecans, celery, marshmallows and cream cheese; mix lightly. Return to refrigerator to maintain gel, serve cold.
Notes: Chopped Pineapple can be used as additional filling in the salad – 1 cup.
I leave out the marshmallows and celery.
I like the celery in it - adds a crunch, but the beauty is you can add/subtract to your liking.. glad we're keeping a tradition alive!!
ReplyDeleteI remember asking if it used cherry coke...
Lol I remember asking that too.
DeleteEveryone I told about the celery seemed weirded out by it, so I was glad on Saturday I passed on it.
And I think I will forever leave out the marshmallows. It's already pretty sweet, it doesn't need more sweet.
This dish is a family tradition as well except ours doesn't have celery or marshmallow in it and the cherries, nuts and cream cheese all go in a large pan before its set like a traditional fruit salad jello ring is. We serve it with cool whip on top too.
ReplyDelete