Festive Fruit Trifle by Cricket Warren

Festive Fruit Trifle        

by Cricket Warren      Found in Good Housekeeping magazine      We make this every Christmas

3 pkgs. (10 oz. each) frozen quick-than strawberries in light syrup

2 cans (16 oz. each) sliced peaches in extra-light syrup

1 (10 3/4 to 12 oz.) frozen ready-to-serve pound cake

1 pkg. (4 serving size) vanilla-flavor instant pudding & pie filling

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 container (8 oz.) frozen light whipped topping (thawed)

1 cup orange juice

1 tbsp. toasted sliced almonds, or I substitute 1 pkg. fresh raspberries

Directions:

1. Thaw frozen strawberries as label directs.

2.  Meanwhile, drain peaches.  Cut pound cake lengthwise in half; cut each half crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

3.   In medium bow, prepare vanilla instant pudding & pie filling as label directs but use only 1 1/2 cups milk and add almond extract.  With rubber spatula, fold in 2 cups whipped topping until blended.  Reserve remaining whipped topping for garnish.

4.  Drain syrup from 1 package thawed strawberries into 2-cup measuring cup; add orange juice to syrup.  Drain remaining 2 packages strawberries but reserve their syrup for another day to use in juice or spoon over ice cream for dessert.

5.  In bottom of 2-quart glass souffle dish or bowl, spread 1 cup almond cream.  Arrange half of pound cake slices over almond cream.  Drizzle half of orange juice mixture over pound cake to moisten it.

6.  Top pound cake layer with half of sliced peaches; spread with half of remaining almond cream.  Top with all 3 packages of drained strawberries.  Arrange remaining pound cake over strawberries; moisten pound cake with remaining orange juice mixture, then top with remaining almond cream.  Arrange remaining sliced peaches around edge of dish.

7.  Spoon reserved whipped topping in center of peaches; sprinkle with toasted almonds, or arrange raspberries over whipped topping.

Prep time:  1 hour

Serves:  16

This is best refrigerated over-night so that the flavors blend.