Happy Birthday Mom !

Jenny Mac -9 months, Mom- 21

So I am busy as a beaver getting things ready for tonight. Dessert is all ready to go. As I said Mom didn't want your typical birthday cake. I understand. When it's your birthday sometimes you want something sweet that you REALLY love rather than birthday when we get opportunities to eat cake all year. Mom wanted me to make my Strawberry Pretzel Dessert. I got this from one of those 'church spiral bound' cookbook from my first year of teaching (like 19 years ago). I have only made it a handful of times for it's a bit laborious but SO WORTH IT.
I am one of those people who love the combination of sweet and salty. If that is your taste palette, then you will love this too.



Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
Makes 12 servings

JennyMac's favorite summer indulgence. OMG, this is the best dessert!

1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
4 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup white sugar
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (6 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
1 (16 ounce) package frozen strawberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the pretzels, 4 1/2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or lightly toasted. Set aside to cool completely.

2. In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread evenly over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together the gelatin mix and boiling water. Mix in frozen strawberries, and stir until thawed. Pour over cream cheese mixture in pan. Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 1 hour.

Note: The first cut is difficult as like pies. When cutting the pretzel crust will be harder to cut through and will not bend when lifting. Often the first piece, the crust will break somewhere. After the first cut, lifting from underneath, than the side will go much easier. Enjoy, I know we will!!!