strawberry pretzel salad

This is a family favorite! We usually have it as a salad, but it could easily be the dessert as well!

You'll need:
2 C crushed pretzels

3/4 cup melted butter
3 T sugar

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 C sugar
1 (8 oz) container Cool Whip

2 (3 oz) pkgs strawberry Jell-o
2 C boiling water
2 (10 oz) pkgs frozen strawberries - semi-thawed (take them out of the freezer when you start the crust)

To make it:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Combine pretzels, melted butter, and 3 T sugar in a 9x13 pan. Press into bottom-only of dish to form crust. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
3) Combine cream cheese, 1 C sugar, and Cool Whip with mixer. Pour mixture over cooled crust. Be sure to smoosh the mixture to the edges of the pan to form a "seal" with the white layer (this keeps the Jello from sinking down to the crust).
4) Combine Jello with boiling water until Jello is completely dissolved. Add frozen strawberries in and stir until strawberries are melted. The strawberries should make the Jello start to set up, but if not, stick the Jello mixture in the freezer for 5-10 minutes - you want it at a "goopy gel" stage (you'll know what I mean :) - basically so it's not sheer liquid. The pour the Jello over the white layer.
5) Cover and refrigerate until Jello is set up!