Strawberry Cheese Pie - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 c. fresh strawberries, stemmed and hulled
1 1/3 c. sugar
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. grated orange peel
2 Tbsp. orange juice
2 Tbsp. half and half
1 (9-inch) pie shell, baked
sweetened whipped cream (optional)

Preparation

Divide berries into 2 equal portions.
In a heavy saucepan, mash half of berries.
Add 1 cup sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice and cook over low heat, blending well until thick and translucent. Remove from heat and cool.
In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese, remaining 1/3 cup sugar, orange peel, orange juice and half and half.
Cream until light and fluffy.
Spread cream cheese mixture smoothly and evenly into pie shell.
Arrange whole berries over cream cheese mixture and cover with the cooled strawberry glaze.
Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
If desired, serve with dollops of lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Makes 8 servings.