ULTIMATE Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Be prepared to be in love!  This is perhaps the BEST recipe I will put on this blog.

Okay, so I know a lot of people might have had strawberry pretzel salad at a church potluck or maybe a baby shower, but I'll bet (unless you've been to one of ours) you've never tasted one as good as this one.  Traditionally, strawberry pretzel salad is made with a jello topping and frozen strawberries, well my mom made it even better changing it to her strawberry pie filling and fresh strawberries instead, and not the kind you buy in a plastic bag at the grocery store, but one that is homemade and MUCH better.  Our family has decided that if we ever had the ability to chose our last meal it would be a 9x13 pan of strawberry pretzel salad.  It's that good!!


P.S.  We have not really tried to lighten this recipe up, but if you find out a way please let me know!

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 C & 6 T sugar                 2 C water                             6 heaping T corn starch
4 T strawberry jello                  2 C broken pretzels              2 pkgs Dream Whip
1/2 C margarine (melted)          1 pkg cream cheese              2 qts fresh strawberries (cut in 1/2 or 1/4)


PRETZEL LAYER
Add 6T sugar to margarine, mix with spoon.  Add pretzels and toss until coated.  Spread into 9 x 13 pan and bake for 10 mins @ 350º and let cool

FILLING
Prepare Dream Whip according to package, add 1/2 C sugar and cream cheese.  Beat well.  Spread over cooled crust and refrigerate to set (for best results let set for 4 hours before adding topping)

TOPPING

Mix 2 C sugar, 2 C water and 6 heaping T corn starch in microwave-safe bowl heating until thick, stirring between microwave intervals (usually we do 3 mins, 2 mins, 1 min, 40 sec & 20 sec).  Add 4 T strawberry jello and mix well.  Add strawberries to mixture and stir until all coated, pour on top of refrigerated filling & crust and return to refrigerator to set (usually 4 hours will do it).