For My Sweets

Today I am sharing with you what I made for my boys for their Valentine's Day dessert. Well, to be truthful since the 14th fell on a Thursday- Which for us means work, school, Taekwondo and this year I had the added duty of retrieving my mom from the airport after a 3 week vacation in Florida (Yes, you can hiss at her now. We all did too.)- I made one of their favorite meals the Sunday prior, my Buffalo Chili, and this was our dessert.

I got the idea for this based on my Strawberry Cream Salad, another favorite. I was simply looking for something pink (have to be festive after all) to serve them, and since I've made the strawberry a thousand times, I thought using cherry as the base would be a good idea. Then I started playing around with things "cherry-ish". Chocolate covered cherries...okay, I'll add chocolate chips. (And since my boys love cherry cordials, this was an added bonus!) Nuts in a warm cherry cobbler, okay I'll add pecans. Marshmallows....well, I just had those in the cupboard!

I might have made this for Valentine's Day, but it is a easy as can be dessert for any night of the week. Plus, it's a great base to begin playing with and finding different flavor combos your family will love. Making something for my sweets is one of my favorite parts of the day of love...rather we are celebrating the day of...a few days before...or a few days after!

Cherry Bliss Salad

1 (20 oz) can cherry pie filling

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c. mini marshmallows

1/2 c. chopped pecans

1 (12 oz) tub Cool Whip, cooled

1/2 c. semi sweet morsels

Maraschino cherries, for garnish

In a large bowl combine pie filling and condensed milk. Stir well.  Add Cool Whip and mix well. Gently fold in marshmallows, chocolate chips and pecans. Stir well. Chill overnight to set. Top with extra chocolate chips and maraschino cherries if desired.

Shared on Make Ahead Meals Feb. 18, 2013
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