Fresh Strawberry Pie

Some fresh fruit just tastes better uncooked.  Strawberries are one of them, especially in a pie.  Growing up, I made a couple strawberry pies, but they required baking and usually boiled over.  When I left home, I moved to a place overflowing with blueberry bushes and I learned this simple technique for make fresh berry pies.  It's easy, delicious and stirs up so many happy memories for me.

Here's what you'll need:
1 baked 9-inch pie shell
1 quart strawberries, rinsed and cored
3/4 c sugar
3 TBSP corn starch
1/2 of a 3-oz box strawberry jello
1 c water

Arrange the strawberries in the baked pie crust.  I leave the small berries whole, and cut the larger ones in halves or thirds.

Make sure the berries are evenly distributed, but not packed too tight.  There needs to be room for the glaze to get between the berries.  Otherwise the pie will fall apart when you cut it.

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, corn starch, jello and water.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Cook until the mixture begins to thicken.  Remove from heat.  Let sit for 15 minutes.  DO NOT refrigerate!

Slowly pour the glaze over the berries in the pie crust, allowing it to seep into the gaps between the berries. Refrigerate until set.

Enjoy!

S'mores Snack Cake

I don't like camping, but I do enjoy sitting around the campfire.  Eating s'mores is the epitome of lazy summer nights spent beside the fire.  But then winter comes, the campfires go away, and I'm left without s'mores. (They CAN be made in the microwave, by the way!)  This recipe combines moist chocolate cake with the flavors of a s'more for a wonderful taste of summer anytime of the year.

Here's what you'll need:
6 whole graham crackers
1 2/3 c flour
1 c packed brown sugar
1/4 c cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c water
1/3 c vegetable oil
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 c miniature marshmallows

Heat oven to 350.  Grease a 9-inch square pan.  Lay the graham crackers in the bottom, breaking to fit.

Sift together the flour cocoa baking soda and salt.  Stir in the sugar.  Set aside.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla.

Make a hole in the dry ingredients; pour in the wet mixture and stir well.

Stir in 1/2 c of the chocolate chips.

Spread over the graham crackers.   Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, until the center is set and the edges begin to pull away from the pan.

Remove from the oven.  Sprinkle with the marshmallows and remaining chocolate chips.

Put back into the oven for 2-3 minutes, just until the chocolate is starting to melt.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

Cut into 16 squares when completely cool.  Wet your knife-- it will help keep the marshmallow from sticking to it as you cut.

Store in an airtight container IF you have any left.

Enjoy!