Valentine Cherry Whirl

This is so pretty! Make this for your Valentine and make them feel special with this delicious treat! Cherry and pineapple whipped up into a beautiful concoction, served right in it's own heart! This calls for a quarter cup of maraschino cherry juice. I'm not sure how much there is in a jar of the cherries, but here's what I do. Make a simple syrup (recipe follows). You can add a little cherry extract, which you can find in the spice isle, and a few drops of red food coloring should do the trick! The amount will vary.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 2  tbsp.unflavored gelatin (= 2 envelopes)
• 1⁄4 cup  maraschino  cherry syrup
• 1⁄4 cup  pineapple juice, chilled
• 1⁄2 cup  pineapple juice, heated to boiling
• 1⁄2 cup maraschino cherry
• 1⁄2 lemon, peeled and seeded
• 1⁄3 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  light cream
• 2  cups  crushed  ice or 2  cups  ice cubes
•  semi-sweet chocolate bit

• For the simple syrup

• 1  cup water
• 1  cup sugar

Directions

1. In a blender container that holds 5 cups, place cherry syrup and chilled pineapple juice, sprinkle gelatin on top, then add hot pineapple juice. Cover and process at low speed until gelatin dissolves. Turn to highest speed, add remaining ingredients except chocolate bits, and continue processing until ice is melted and mixture begins to thicken. Pour at once into a 5 cup heart-shaped pan or mold. Chill about 1 hour; garnish with chocolate pieces.
2. For the simple syrup:.
3. Combine sugar and water.
4. Bring to a boil and stir constantly until mixture thickens.
5. Cool and store in fridge.