Strawberry Pie

Recipe from Sandy Olsen

1 cup sugar
3 tbls cornstarch
2 pints fresh strawberries, washed & hulled, divided
3 tbls strawberry gelatin
4 oz cream cheese, softened
9-inch baked pie shell
Whipped cream, garnish

Combine sugar and cornstarch, set aside.  Crush (don’t puree) one pint of berries in blender or with potato masher; add enough water to make 1½ cups.  In saucepan, bring crushed berries to a boil over medium heat; stir in sugar and cornstarch all at once.  Stir constantly until thick and clear.  Remove from heat and add strawberry gelatin.  Stir until gelatin is dissolved.  Set aside.  Mix cream cheese and 1 tbls of hot cooked berries; spread mixture over baked pastry shell.  Stand the uncooked whole berries, stem end down, on top of cream cheese.  Pour berry gelatin over whole berries.  Refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.  Cover with whipped cream and serve.