Strawberry Pie

Nothing says "summertime" like a slice of fresh, homemade strawberry pie!  This is my mother's recipe.  It's easy-peasy, which is what we all want in the summertime.  No fussing around in the kitchen on those sweltering days.

This is a no-bake version, using ripe strawberries.  I like to buy them from the local farmer's market as I'm a strong believer in supporting our farmers and buying locally.  I may pay a little more than the grocery store, but to me it's well worth it.  Thank you farmers for all that you do, day in and day out!  We appreciate it!

I also make a baked version which I sometimes freeze.  There's nothing like eating a strawberry pie in the middle of the winter when it's blustery outside.  Brings a little bit of summer back into your life!

Ingredients:
1 baked pie shell
1 quart strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
3 Tbsp cornstarch

In a saucepan, crush 1 cup of the strawberries with a fork or potato masher.  Add the sugar, water, and cornstarch.  Bring to a boil and boil gently until thickened, about 1-2 minutes.  Let cool.

Slice remaining strawberries (or leave whole if they are smaller) and place in the baked pie shell.  Pour cooled strawberry mixture over top.  Refrigerate until set.

Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or it's just as good on it's own.  Enjoy!