Marlene’s Strawberry Pretzel Salad

In a couple of hours we’re driving to Florence, Alabama (about 90 miles from Tupelo) to spend Thanksgiving with my brother Andy, his wife Betty, and their daughter Kathleen. For this special occasion Marlene is making several dishes, including one of my favorites, strawberry pretzel salad. I highly recommend this as an excellent holiday dish. Here’s the recipe:

2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4th cup melted butter
3 tbsp. sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1 C sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 large package strawberry jello
2 C boiling water
2 10 oz. pkgs. Frozen strawberries – partially thawed

Mix first three ingredients and press in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 for 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 and then set aside for 10 minutes. Spread jello mixture over cheese layer. Chill.