Sweetheart Jello Salad
My cousin served this tasty salad to my family at a memorable Sunday dinner many years ago. I've added this special dish to my menu for Valentine's Day, but I prepare it for other holidays as well. It's so colorful that it adds a festive touch to your table.12-16 ServingsPrep: 20 min. + chilling
Ingredients
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
- 2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 12 maraschino cherries, quartered
- 2 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional
- 1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
- Lettuce leaves, optional
Directions
- Soften gelatin in cold water. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring sugar
- and pineapple with juice to a boil, stirring until the sugar
- dissolves. Remove from the heat. Add gelatin and stir until
- dissolved. Add lemon and cherry juices. Cool to lukewarm. Whisk in
- cream cheese until thoroughly combined. Stir in the cherries and
- food coloring if desired. Chill until slightly thickened. Fold in
- whipped topping. Pour into an oiled 13-in. x 9-in. pan or 8-1/2-cup
- mold; chill until firm. Serve the mold or individual squares on
- lettuce-lined plates if desired. Yield: 12-16 servings.