Cranberry Tree Salad

For dessert on Christmas day I used another tree shaped pan to make this 1958 recipe called Cranberry Tree Salad.

{Better Homes and Gardens December 1958}
Oh my goodness!  That cute little holly elf in the corner!!!!

(Click on recipe to enlarge)



I trimmed down the calories and sugar in the salad by using sugar free jello, 4 packs of artificial sweetener, and only 1/3 cup of sugar. I also used low fat cream cheese and crushed pineapple in it's own juice.  It turned out tasting really good and light.  We have too many cookies, treats, cake and sugary loaves hanging around this place so this is a nice guiltless option!



Now, of course, I had to figure out how to construct me a cutie pie little holly leafed styrofoam noggin elf to accompany my dish!  The magazine did not give instructions of how to put one together.  I bought a 'bouquet' of holly leaves and the styrofoam ball at a thrift (again, part of the big bag o' christmas stuff I got for 5 bucks).  I carefully cut the holly berries apart and painted a couple with black nail polish.  I trimmed the leaves from the plastic wire stalks.  I carved a scrap piece of foam into a cone shape for the body.  You could buy a styrofoam cone but I was just using the debris I have around the house.  I cut some of the wire stalks to make arms, legs, and a neck, then jabbed them into the body.  I then hot glued all of the leaves over the armature and head.  Lastly I glued his eyes and nose in place.  I still need to spritz him with some 'snow' (white spray paint), add his holly buttons, and make him a permanent support base. 
I could see making a little army of these to decorate a christmas buffet table or stash them here and there all over the house!