Frozen Cherry Salad

This is a festive, delicious, easy to make frozen fruit salad that is perfect for dressing up any family meal. I've served it this week with the Hot Turkey Sandwich recipe that was posted on 12/5/13. The combination of cherries and mandarin oranges in a rich creamy salad make it a kid-friendly treat, as well. This is another reader-contributed recipe from a Taste of Home cookbook. Blessings...

Recipe:

1 pkg. (8 ounces) low-fat cream cheese, softened
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
2 cans (11 ounces each) mandarin oranges, drained

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and whipped topping using an electric mixer. Stir in the pie filling.
2. Set aside 1/4 cup mandarin oranges for garnish if desired. Fold remaining oranges into cream cheese mixture.
3. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the mixture into a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan. Cover and freeze overnight or until firm.
4. Remove salad from freezer 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
5. To unmold, run a knife around the edge to loosen salad from pan. Set salad in warm water for a few minutes and turn out on a cutting board. Cut into slices to serve.

Yield: 12 servings
Note: To make this salad low calorie use fat-free cream cheese, light whipped topping and reduced-sugar pie filling.