Our Favorite Strawberry Pie

Last night we had Grandpa Wilbur and Georgeanne over for supper.  It had been MUCH to long since we've seen them.  Between life, this-that-and-the-other, laziness and WT's shingles...it's been since before Christmas!  We should be ashamed of ourselves!  But, it was good to see them, even if it was long over due.

Since they're aren't company, I never go to any extra work when they're coming over.  But I did get inspired and make Our Favorite Strawberry Pie.  My mom had mentioned that she had made some for my Grandma Olson's birthday and it put the idea in my brain.  It is seriously so good.  If you haven't had my mom's strawberry pie, you need to request it.

This pie isn't hard to make, or complicated but it does take time. But not necessarily a ton of time by you in the kitchen.  There are several things that need to cool before you proceed and that makes this pie take a while to make.  Don't start this one after lunch and think you'll be having it for supper that night.  

Our Favorite Strawberry Pie

1 baked 9" pie shell
1 package (3 oz) softened (room temperature) cream cheese
1 qt. strawberries
1 cup sugar
3 T cornstarch
Whipped Cream

Spread the cream cheese in the bottom of the pie shell (make your own crust from scratch...you'll be happy you did).  Choose the best half of the washed and hulled strawberries and place over cream cheese.  Puree remaining berries thoroughly.  Add enough water to the pulp to measure 1 1/2 cups.  (I used more than 1 qt. strawberries and so I didn't have to add any water this time...YUM!)  Blend sugar and cornstarch; stir into strawberry puree.  Cook stirring constantly until the mixture boils for 1 minute.  Cool.  Pour over berries in the pie shell.  Chill about 2+ hours.  Decorate with whipped cream (again, make homemade...you won't regret it!!) before serving.