Thanksgiving: Jello Search

I'm on another strawberry jello salad search for Bud. It's his favorite part of the meal now for the third year running (see strawberry jello squares and crown jewel jello and, once with additional bananas, a cranberry-jello salad). I'm sure I should just make jello and put strawberries in it, as Mama suggests every year, but I try to gussy it up some, unnecessarily.

I just asked about the following recipe, with a pretzel crust, and Bud sounded interested--he loves honey wheat pretzels. I'm not sure, though, how he'll like it with his jello. I think I'll make it but reserve some of the jello in a separate pan so that if he doesn't like it, he can just have jello. That's what pretty much happens with these fancy jello recipes anyway--he picks out everything and eats the jello.

Maybe I should take the hint.

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Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad

2 c. crushed pretzel sticks

3/4 c. melted butter

3 tbsp. sugar

8 oz. cream cheese

1 c. sugar

8 oz. Cool Whip

1 (6 oz.) pkg. strawberry banana Jello

2 c. boiling water

2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen strawberries, partially thawed

Mix first three ingredients and press in bottom of a 9"x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees (metal pan) or 325 degrees (glass pan) 8 minutes. Let cool completely. Beat 1 cup sugar and cream cheese. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over pretzels. Mix Jello and water until dissolved. Add strawberries. Stir into Jello, then set aside for 10 minutes. Pour over cheese mixture. Chill.

from Cooks.com