| Since spring is finally here, sort of (it snowed here | | | | 1 package (8 ounces) strawberry flavored cream |
| in Denver on Easter day, sigh), I thought I would | | | | cheese |
| share one of my favorite strawberry recipes with | | | | 1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla flavored pudding |
| you. It is a pretty easy recipe that does not even | | | | 2 cups cold milk |
| require any baking. Start to finish, it takes about | | | | 1 (6 ounce) ready-to-use graham cracker pie |
| 20 minutes. As I do at my baking site, I am going | | | | crust |
| to share with you here the story behind the | | | | 1 pint of strawberries |
| recipe. | | | | Prepare the vanilla pudding according to the |
| Cream Cheese Strawberry Pie | | | | package directions. (Put the pudding mix and the |
| Strawberries are my favorite fruit. I always have | | | | milk into a bowl and whisk together for 2 |
| them around when they come into season in the | | | | minutes.) Allow it to set for 5 minutes. I usually |
| spring. It always brings back memories of going | | | | use this time to start washing and cutting the |
| to pick berries with my family in the summer. We | | | | strawberries. I typically just cut them in half for |
| would all pile in the car with buckets and ice | | | | this recipe. Once the pudding has set, place the |
| cream pails, eager to taste fresh summer berries. | | | | cream cheese in a medium sized bowl and mix |
| We would go to one of the nearby berry farms | | | | with an electric mixer for 30 seconds at low |
| that had acres and acres of berries. I remember | | | | speed. Add the pudding to the cream cheese and |
| it seemed so huge to me as a kid and I could not | | | | mix for about one minute on low speed. Put the |
| believe how many rows upon rows upon rows | | | | mixture into the pie crust and put it in the |
| there were. All of us kids of course ended up | | | | refrigerator for 10 minutes. Continue washing and |
| eating just as many berries as we picked. There | | | | cutting the strawberries while the pie is in the |
| is nothing that has quite as much flavor as a | | | | refrigerator. Place the strawberries on top of the |
| strawberry fresh from the field, warm with | | | | pie. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator. |
| sunshine. Makes me want to go hunt down a local | | | | Enjoy your spring (and your berry picking |
| berry farm so I can share that memory with my | | | | adventures)! |
| daughter! | | | | |