Never Cook Anything Delicious: Part 1, Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Holiday Cooking Rule #1: 
Never cook anything delicious.

If they love it, you'll be asked to cook it every year. Ask my poor mom. Her repertoire of frequently demanded dishes is growing. She cooks so well, and we all love it so much, she has to start cooking days ahead of time just to get it all ready.  But maybe you like that kinda of thing, so this year, as her little Sue Chef, I ran around the kitchen snapping pictures of her most beloved recipes so I could share them with you! 

Part 1: Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Part 2: Stuffed Mushrooms
Part 3: Pomegranate and Broccoli Salad

Thanks, Mom, for making holiday dinners special and delicious. And for not yelling when I ran away with what you were cooking in search of the perfect lighting for the pictures!  Love you.

Part 1: Strawberry Pretzel Desert

Sidenote: This picture was taken before my baby cousins who really aren't babies anymore and who are ravenous teenagers ate most of this dessert, you punks! Punks that I love... even if they ate all my dessert. And I had to beat them off for the one piece I did get.

Bottom Layer

Mix together:

2 c. crushed baby pretzels

1/2 c. sugar

3/4 c. melted butter

Press them into a greased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 for exactly 9 minutes. Set aside to cool. (Stickin ‘em outside in the cold always works!)

 

Middle Layer

Cream together:

-8 oz. of cream cheese

-1 c. of powdered sugar

Gently whip in:

-9 oz. of cool whip

Spread evenly over the cooled pretzels. Use the middle layer to completely seal off the bottom layer. You don’t want the top layer to leak down and make the pretzels soggy.

Top Layer

Mix together:

-6 oz. box of strawberry banana Jello

-2 c. boiling water

Then chop and add:

-1 bag of slightly defrosted strawberries

Allow to thicken and then pour over middle layer.

Chill.