Mrs. P.
The recipe you describe sounds like Jello 1-2-3, or close. Here are a few recipes that were previously posted here on the Recipe Link.

From: pjh
Date: 1996/03/15

Recipe: Jello 1-2-3
From The Joys of Jello Cookbook

2 (3-oz pkgs.) Jello (orange is really good)
2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 (10-oz pkg.) frozen fruit (I think this usually got left out)
1 cup sour cream, vanilla yogurt, softened vanilla ice cream, or prepared Dream Whip
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 Tbsp. brandy
1 1/2 Tbsp. rum
2 Tbsp. Cointreau or Curacao

Dissolve Jello in boiling water. Add cold water. Remove 2 cups of mixture to another bowl; add frozen fruit and stir till thick, then chill until partially set. Spoon into glasses, filling 2/3 full. (Mom always put this in goblets, and then set them on a slant in the refrigerator so they'd come out in diagonal stripes.) Chill until set, but not firm.

Chill remaining Jello mixture until slightly thick. Add remaining ingredients and beat on high speed 1 minute. Spoon over first layer; chill until firm. (This separates into a creamy Jello layer and a top layer of foamy Jello.)
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And from another post:

You can make a not-quite-the-same approximation: Make Jello as usual (1 cup boiling water, 1 cup cold), and then whip the mixture with an electric mixer until it's pretty stiff and foamy. Pour into parfait glasses. As the mixture chills and stiffens, some of the foam will remain.
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Posted by Clarissa 7-28-1998
Here's another one that I found at the Kraft Foods website.

JELL-O 1-2-3 Dessert

Prep Time:15 min Skill: Learning Cook Ready In:15 min Serves: 4
1 pkg JELL-O Light or Regular Jelly Powder, any flavour
3/4 cup (175 mL) boiling water
1/2 cup (125 mL) cold water
ice cubes
1/2 cup (125 mL) prepared DREAM WHIP Dessert Topping

DISSOLVE jelly powder in boiling water in a blender container.

COMBINE cold water and ice cubes to make 11/2 cups (375 mL). Add to jelly and blend for 30 seconds.

ADD prepared dessert topping. Blend until smooth.

POUR into 4 dessert dishes. Chill.
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Posted by Elly 11-2-2003

SELF LAYERING JELLO DESSERT

3/4 cup boiling water
1 small package jello, any flavor, I use the red ones.
1/2 cup cold water
ice cubes
1/2 cup thawed cool whip

Pour boiling water into blender. Add gelatin. Cover and blend at low speed until gelatin is dissolved, about 30 seconds.

Combine cold water and ice cubes to make 1 1/4 cups.
Add to gelatin and stir until ice is partially melted. Add cool whip, blend at high speed for 30 seconds.

Pour into dessert glasses. Chill about 30 minutes.
Dessert layers as it chills. Garnish as desired.
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Posted by Betsy 7-28-1998

Sherbert 1-2-3
This is supposed to be similar to Jello 1-2-3

Take 1 pkg jell-o (small or large) and prepare with boiling water as usual. Instead of using the corresponding amount of cold water replace with an equal amount of sherbet. Beat with an electric mixer until sherbet is melted. Refrigerate and let set. Enjoy.
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