Strawberry Super Pie

TOPPING
2 lb Strawberries; divided
1/2 c ;Water
1 c Sugar
3 tb Cornstarch

FILLING
1 1/4 c Whipping cream
1/4 lb Cream cheese; softened
3/4 ts Vanilla extract
1/2 c Sugar, powdered

Preheat oven to 375 F. For crust, mix melted butter with flour,
powdered sugar, and pecans. Press into a buttered 10″ pie plate.
Bake for 25 minutes or until light brown. Allow to cool completely.

Start topping by mashing enough strawberries to make one cup. Cut
tops off remaining strawberries and set aside. Place mashed berries
in a sauce pan and add water. Mix sugar and cornstarch into crushed
berry mixture and bring to a boil on top of stove, stirring. Boil
about one minute or until clear and thickened. Set aside to cool.

For filling, whip cream until stiff. In another bowl, beat cream
cheese with vanilla and powdered sugar. Carefully fold whipped cream
into cream cheese mixture. Spread in cooled crust and refrigerate.

When crushed berry mixture is cool, pie can be assembled. Stand
whole (or halved, as you like) strawberries on top of cream filling,
cut side down. When entire filling is covered with whole berries,
carefully spoon cooled crushed berry mixture over all. Cream filling
should not be seen between berries. Once the crevices have been
filled, do not overload the pie with the crushed berry mixture, as it
will just drip over the sides. Any left- over crushed berry mixture
is excellent instead of jam on toast or English muffins.

—*Dying for Chocolate*
Diane Mott Davidson