Heather's Reviewed Recipes

James' Cherry-Pineapple Dessert

My son, James Jerome Dierickx, will be 28 on September 20th. While desserts have never been at the top of James' food list, he has always loved cherries.
Serves 8

12 (2 1/2-inch) graham crackers*
1 (4-serving) package JELL-O Sugar Free Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
2/3 cup Carnation Nonfat Dry Milk Powder
1 cup water
1 cup Cool Whip Lite*
1 (4-serving) package JELL-O Sugar Free Vanilla Cook & Serve Pudding Mix
1 (4-serving) package JELL-O Sugar Free Cherry Gelatin
1 cup (one 8-ounce can) crushed pineapple, packed in fruit juice, undrained
2 cups (one 16-ounce can) tart red cherries, packed in water, undrained
1 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Evenly arrange 9 graham crackers in a 9-by-9-inch cake pan, breaking as necessary to fit. In a medium bowl, combine dry instant pudding mix, dry milk powder, and water. Mix well using a wire whisk. Blend in 1/2 cup Cool Whip Lite. Spread pudding mixture evenly over graham crackers. Refrigerate. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine dry vanilla cook & serve pudding mix, dry gelatin, and undrained pineapple. Stir in undrained cherries. Cook over medium heat, stirring often until mixture thickens and starts to boil, being careful not to crush cherries. Remove from heat. Stir in almond extract. Place pan on a wire rack and allow to cool 15 minutes. Evenly spoon cherry mixture over pudding layer. Crush remaining 3 graham crackers and evenly sprinkle crumbs over top. Bake 30 minutes. Place cake pan on a wire rack and allow to cook at least 15 minutes. Cut into 8 servings. Good served warm or cold. When serving top each piece with 1 tablespoon Cool Whip Lite.

Each serving equals:
HE: 3/4 Fruit, 1/2 Bread, 1/4 Skim Milk, 1/2 Slider, 8 Optional Calories
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150 Calories, 2gm Fat, 4gm Protein,
29gm Carbohydrate, 352mg Sodium, 1gm Fiber
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DIABETIC: 1 Fruit, 1 Starch

"Arthritis Healthy Exchanges Cookbook pg. 222 or Healthy Exchanges Food Newsletter, September 1996, pg. 1."