Country Kitchen Recipe: Strawberry Cheese Pie

    

Strawberries from the home garden, what a treat!  These are Chandler Strawberries from plants that I planted last October.

Strawberry Cheese Pie
1 envelope Knox Unflavored Gelatine
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Mix gelatin and sugar in small bowl;  add boiling water and stir until gelatin completely dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Beat cream cheese and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until smooth;  slowly beat in gelatin mixture.  Pour into prepared crust.

Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.

Strawberry Topping:
3/4 cup cup water
3/4 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 quart strawberries, cut in medium size pieces

Place 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup strawberries in a blender and blend well.  In a sauce pan stir together sugar and cornstarch.  Add water and strawberry mixture to the sugar and cornstarch mixture.  Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in remaining strawberries.  Refrigerate until completely cool.  Pour over top of cooled cheese pie.   Serves 8.