Christmas Day and its festival are a curious blend of Christian, Jewish, Roman, Western pagan, and perhaps other institutions. It arose as a Christian festival as part of the adaptation of the early Christian Church to the world in which it grew up.
Christmas dinner is the primary meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Day. It is often seen as the main event of the day for which family members gather together spreading good will, tidings and rejoicing in the holiday season.
- 2¼ cups water
- 1 3-oz. package strawberry flavoured gelatin
- 1 10 ½ oz. can frozen cranberry orange relish, thawed
- 1 8-oz. can crushed pineapple
- 1 3-oz. package lemon flavoured gelatin
- 2 cups of miniature marshmallows
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup whipping cream, whipped
Bring 1 cup water to a boil. Gradually add to strawberry gelatin, stirring until dissolved. Add cranberry-orange relish; mix well. Pour into lightly oiled 6 ½ cup ring mold; cover. Chill until almost set. Drain pineapple, reserving liquid. Bring remaining water to boil. Gradually add to lemon gelatin, stirring until dissolved. Add marshmallows; stir until melted. Add reserved pineapple liquid; cover. Chill until partially set. Add mayonnaise and pineapple to marshmallow mixture. Fold in whipped cream; pour over strawberry layer. Cover; chill until firm. Unmold. Garnish as desired.
- 12 oz. bag frozen or fresh cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Combine sugar and water in medium saucepan, stir to dissolve sugar. Bring to a boil and add cranberries. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat, and cool completely at room temperature.
Cover; store in refrigerator.
Tips for Cooking with Cranberries
- A 350g bag of cranberries equals 750 ml.
- Leftover cranberry sauce can be stored in the refrigerator several days. Or in a freezer foe up to a year.
- Fresh cranberries will stay fresh and retain nutrients for up to nine months to a year. Freeze in their original bag.
- Boiling cranberries is essential to release natural pectin inside the cranberry for gelling.
- To produce zing and texture to your stuffing, add sweetened dried cranberries to your recipes.
Christmas is the feast commemorating the birth of Christ. It is fixed in the liturgical year as December 25th and is preceded by four week of fasting called Advent.