Mandarin Orange Delight

Mandarin Orange Delight

(A no-bake cheesecake-like dessert for spring)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup ground pecans

1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. butter

1 8-oz.pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice (more if you like tart J we do… )

1 11-oz. can mandarin oranges, undrained

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. cornstarch

Directions:

Combine graham cracker crumbs, ground pecans and melted butter or margarine; stirring until blended. Press the mixture into bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9 inch pie plate.

Combine cream cheese, lemon juice and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Pour filling into prepared pan.  Chill. 

Topping: (Also very good on vanilla ice cream, pound cakes, and yeah. pretty much anything.)

Drain mandarin oranges, reserving 1/2 cup liquid. Combine the reserved 1/2 cup orange liquid, orange juice and cornstarch in a saucepan; stir well. ( We added a dash of triple sec) Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly; cool slightly.

 Arrange orange sections in center and around outer edge of dessert. Spoon glaze over top; chill.