Almond Float Asian Dessert - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups water
3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
4 teaspoons almond extract
1 (15 ounce) can fruit cocktail
1 (20 ounce) can lychees
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges
16 maraschino cherries, cut into halves (optional)

Preparation

In a saucepan, bring water to a boil; add gelatin and sugar and cook until dissolved.
Remove from heat; stir in milk and almond extract.
Pour into a 13x9 glass pan and refrigerate until firm (about 2 hours).
In the recipe I found on the Web, it says to use the cans of fruit undrained; however, this is not what I remember from my recipe and I would recommend draining them.
In a large serving bowl, gently stir together the fruit cocktail, lychees and mandarin oranges.
Cut gelatin into cubes, preferably diamond-shaped.
Gently combine with fruit.
Garnish with cherries, if desired.
Chill well before serving.