Dear Pretzel Salad,

Remember yesterday when I told you about the pretzel salad? And remember how sometimes when you think salad you think... only healthy. Well this what I like to call an ILLUSION salad. Want to know why? Because it is just treats. Yum. Get. In. My. Belly. That is what I said to the salad, and that is what it did.

Ingredients
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup sugar

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping
• 2 (3-ounce) packages strawberry gelatin dessert mix
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen strawberries
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• Directions
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the crust, mix the pretzels, butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan and bake for 7 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.
• In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar. Fold in the whipped topping, and spread over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until well chilled.
• In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, and allow to cool slightly. 
• Add the strawberries and pour over the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until serving time.
• To serve, cut slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping.
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I actually made the salad for a surprise going away party for Miss Heidi at work. She hates surprises....

But it was a successful event. And we miss her. Lots. Already.

Love,

Deidre