Birthday Boy Strawberry Pie

As promised here is the Strawberry Pie Recipe and the story that goes with it.

When Farmer Caleb and I stared dating back in January of 2008 I had to find out what his favorite foods were so I could cook them for him on his birthday. Steak, check. Potatoes, check. Green beans, check. Strawberry pie, check. Wait strawberry pie, you mean that nasty, gross, disgusting pie that uses strawberry jell-o in the filling and them you throw cool whip on top of. Yep that's the one. You've got to be kidding. Why couldn't it be cherry or apple pie something I like. I've never made a strawberry pie before, no one in my family even likes them. So I pull out all my cook books and start going through them and what do I find, no recipes for strawberry pie. Well crap, what now? I didn't have a computer at the time, so no internet. So I call my sister Kim up and ask her if she has the recipe for a strawberry pie, and of course no was my answer, but she did have the internet, so she looked up the recipes and then e-mailed them to me so I could print them off at work the next day. Well the next day came and went and I forgot to print them off. It was Friday and I couldn't wait till the next week to get the recipe, I needed it that weekend so I could impress my new love with his favorite pie. So once again I call Kim, "Do you have those strawberry pie recipes? I forgot to print them off." Sure enough she did, so she read them off to me over the phone and I scribbled them off on a the back of the piece of paper that I had my pie dough recipe on. I tell Kim thanks then hang up the phone and head down to the groceries store and pick up all that I need to make this mess they call a pie.

I get home a look at the three different recipes and pick one to go with. I make the pie and give it to 'my love' for his birthday and he loves it. I will say it wasn't the best looking strawberry pie, I don't even think it set up worth a hoot, but luckily we were young and in love so it didn't really matter that much. Well since then I have made countless numbers of strawberry pies and I have combined the different recipes to make the best one. I still don't like to eat them, so for taste I go to the expert, Farmer Caleb.

Before we go on I must give you some 'Caleb Logic' that comes from me not likening strawberry pies,

Caleb, "So, you don't like strawberries!"

Me, "I love strawberries! What are you talking about?"

Caleb, “You don't like strawberry pie, so you must not like strawberries."

Humm....can you make sense of that?

(Caleb) Not liking Strawberry Pie = Not liking Strawberries

(Me) Not liking Strawberry Pie = having good taste buds!


OK, enough with that, lets get back to the pie. I know that are a lot of people who like strawberry pies so for those of you who do, or those of you who know some one who does here is the recipe.

Strawberry Pie Roll Call - Strawberries, check. Cornstarch, check. Pie crust, check. Strawberry Jell-o, check. Cool Whip, check. Sugar....Sugar, where's the sugar. Opps I for got to put the sugar in the photo.

Ok, first things first you need to preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Now for the crust. So, on a floured surface roll out the pie dough for the bottom layer of a pie. I usually make this a little thicker than I do for a normal pie because I think it holds up better this way.

When I think I have it to about the right size I will place my pie pan on top of it just to make sure I am good to go.

My trick for getting the crust in the pan without tearing it in half is some thing I learned from my mom.

First you fold it in half.

Then fold it half one more time.

Now it's much easier to pickup.  Next place it on one side of the pie pan...

...and just fold it on out.

Then I will go around the edge and give it a pinch to make the fluted edge.

Then I will take a fork and give it some pokes all over. This is to help keep it from bubbling up.

I also place these pie weights in to keep the crust from bubbling up. I will cook the pie for about 15 minutes with these in. Then I will remove them and will stick the crust back in till it completely cooked so for about another 10-15 minutes.

Once the crust is fully cooked pull it out of the oven and let it cool.

Filling

First slice up about 1 quart of strawberries into the already cooked pie crust. Frozen or fresh it doesn't really matter. If you are going to use frozen stick them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds to thaw them about a bit, but don't completely unthaw them, cause the cut easier if they are still a bit frozen.

Now for the ooey-gooey strawberry jell-o filling start with mixing 1 cup of sugar with 3 TBS of cornstarch together.

Now in a separate pot bring 1 cup of water to a boil.

Now add the sugar and cornstarch mixture to boiling water.

Stir constantly with a whisk till it thickens.

Then stir in the strawberry jell-o.

Pour strawberry jell-o filling over the top of the strawberries that are in the pie crust. Now place the pie in the refrigerator to chill and set-up.

Once it has setup and you are ready to serve it take a tub of cool whip and spread it on top...about half the tub will do. I like to leave a little of the beautiful red filling showing around the edge

But if you are like my husband and like a lot of cool whip then you take the entire tub and spread it all across the top.

Now plate it up and......

....enjoy!!!

I think he is enjoying this pie a little too much!!

Fact: Caleb can eat a whole pie by himself in less than 48 hours!



Strawberry Pie


1 - Pie Crust Fully Cooked

1 - Quart Strawberries

1 - Cup Sugar

3 - tbs Cornstarch

1 - Cup Water

1 - 3oz package of Strawberry Jell-O

1 - Tub of Cool Whip

Cook pie crust according to it's directions. Slice strawberries into cooked pie crust. Mix sugar and cornstarch in small bowl. In a pot on the stove bring water to a boil. Add sugar and cornstarch mixture to boiling water. Stir constantly with a wisk till it thickens. Once it has thickened mix in strawberry jell-o. Then pour over the sliced strawberries that are in the pie crust. Place in the refrigerator for about 1 hour or until it sets up. Then spread about half a tub (or as much as you like) of cool whip on top of the pie. Slice and serve.