Pass the Potatoes, Please

Cranberry Jello Salad

2 small boxes of Raspberry jello
1 cup liquid (juice from 1 large can of crushed pineapple plus enough water to make one cup)
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1/2 can crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup finely chopped celery

Bring the one cup of liquid to a boil. Add boiling liquid to jello and stir until completely dissolved. Add other ingredients, stir, and pour into a 13x9 in. pan. Let set in the refrigerator until firm.

Topping:
1 large package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup whipping cream, whipped and sweetened with 1/2 to 1 cup powdered sugar
1 small jar marscheno cherries, drained and minced (wash to keep whipping cream from turning pink)
1/2 can crushed pineapple

Mix together with a blender and spread on top of firm jello mixture. Top with 1/2 cup crushed walnuts.

**Pandora's comment** While this recipe calls for the cherries, I have never used them. I usually don't have them on hand and don't think to get them. I always use one cup of powdered sugar to sweeten the whipping cream. Use less powdered sugar if you want a topping with more of a cream cheese taste.

Acini DePepe Salad

Dressing:
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
2 TBSP flour
dash of salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 3/4 cups pineapple juice, drained from 1 large can of crushed pineapple and 1 large can of pineapple tidbits

Mix ingredients together and cook slowly for 8-12 minutes or until thick. Cool.

Boil one box of Acini DePepe macaroni in salted water for 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. When the macaroni is cooled, mix with the above dressing.

Add to above mixture:
Drained crushed pineapple and drained pineapple tidbits from the dressing above
2 small cans of mandarin oranges, undrained
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 12-oz package of Cool Whip

Mix all ingredients completely and let set overnight in the refrigerator.

**Pandora's comment** This recipe makes a very large bowlful. I have never tried cutting the recipe in half but one could try. It will usually last three days in the refrigerator but it never takes that long to eat it all.