• Place Jello powder in a 1-quart bowl.
• In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup water to boiling. Pour the boiling water over the Jello and stir until completely dissolved.
• Add water to reserved fruit cocktail liquid to make 3/4 cup. Stir into Jello along with fruit cocktail.
• Note: These days the fruit cocktail contains very few cherries. If desired, add extra maraschino cherries to the fruit cocktail.
• Refrigerate until partially set (consistency of egg whites, approximately 2 hours) and stir to evenly distribute the fruit throughout the Jello.
• Continue to refrigerate until completely set.
• Recipe may be doubled using the larger, 6-ounce packages of Jello.

Additional Options:

• For an old-fashioned flavor, you can also add some banana and/or mini marshmallows to the mix.
• You can add other fresh or canned fruits as well. Canned mandarin slices go well in orange Jello.
• However, do not use fresh or frozen pineapple, kiwi, mango, papaya, guava or figs as they contain enzymes that will break down the Jello and cause it not to set.