Mom's Red Hot Jello Salad

Ingredients:
1/2 cup red hots (divided into 2 - 1/4 cups)
2 – 3 oz pkg red jello (cranberry)
2 cup hot water (divided into 2 - 1 cups)
1 ½ cup applesauce x 2 amounts are for

1 – 8 oz pkg cream cheese – room temp one layer
½ cup chopped walnuts/pecans (optional)
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup mayonnaise

Make 1 pkg of jello with 1/2 of the red hots using 3/4 cup of applesauce in place of the cold water.   Pour mixture in glass pan and CHILL COMPLETELY!

Blend cream cheese, mayo, nuts and celery. Spread over firm layer of jello. Let set up.

Mix second jello layer same as the first. Pour over a wooden spoon onto cream cheese layer (this helps the cream cheese layer to stay put). CHILL COMPLETELY!