Ingredients

• 3 ounces cherry gelatin mix 
• 15 ounces canned pear halves
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 8 ounces Cool Whip^® dessert topping

Preparation

1. Pour cherry gelatin in a 1-1/2-quart bowl and set aside.
2. Drain pear halves and save the juice.
3. Using a 1 cup measuring cup, pour juice from pear halves and add water to make 1 cup.  In a small pan or microwave, heat juice to a boil.
4. Combine hot pear/water juice with gelatin and stir for two minutes until gelatin is completely dissolved.
5. Puree pear halves in a blender.
6. Pour gelatin mixture into blender with pureed pears and blend.
7. Cut cream cheese into small squares and place in blender with pear/gelatin mixture.  Blend then pour into a 1-1/2 quart bowl.
8. Add nondairy dessert topping and mix until well blended.
9. Refrigerate over night or at least 6 hours prior to serving.

Helpful hints

• To increase calories, use pear halves in heavy syrup and full-fat cream cheese. (Analysis based on using these products.)
• To lower calories, sugar and fat, use pear halves in natural juice, sugar-free gelatin and low-fat cream cheese. (178 calories, 15 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams fat)
• Lime, lemon, strawberry or raspberry gelatin may be used as substitute for cherry-flavored gelatin.