Icebox Strawberry Pie

I made this pie for our small group a couple of months ago, and it did not disappoint.  So yummy, I will definitely want to make it again.

Cooking down the frozen strawberries for the filling.

Icebox Strawberry Pie

From the episode: Two Perfect Pies
In step 1, it is imperative that the cooked strawberry mixture measures 2 cups; any more and the filling will be loose. If your fresh berries aren’t fully ripe, you may want to add extra sugar to taste in step 2. Use your favorite pie dough or use our recipe. Chill the heavy cream in step 4 to help it whip more quickly.
Serves 8.  

Ingredients

Filling
2 pounds frozen strawberries (see related tasting)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1 cup sugar
Pinch salt
1 pound fresh strawberries , hulled and sliced thin
1(9-inch) pie shell , baked and cooled (Pillsbury)

Topping
4 ounces cream cheese , softened
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream

Instructions
1. COOK FROZEN BERRIES Cook frozen berries in large saucepan over medium-low heat until berries begin to release juice, about 3 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently, until thick and jamlike, about 25 minutes (mixture should measure 2 cups).

2. ADD GELATIN Combine lemon juice, water, and gelatin in small bowl. Let stand until gelatin is softened and mixture has thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir gelatin mixture, sugar, and salt into cooked berry mixture and return to simmer, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

3. ADD FRESH BERRIES Fold fresh berries into filling. Spread evenly in pie shell and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. (Filled pie can be refrigerated for 24 hours.)

4. MAKE TOPPING With electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth, about 30 seconds. With mixer running, add cream and whip until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Serve pie with whipped cream topping.

Prayer Warrior

I know I've been away from blogging for a little while now.  And, I have plenty of posts I'd like to share soon.  But it is fitting that the post following mention of my brother is about my husband's grandpa.  Thank you to everyone who commented or shared with me about my 3/29 post.  We are so blessed to have such amazing, fun and crazy families.

And before I let too much time go by, I would like to mention how much the passing of my husband's grandpa last month impacted our lives.  He (and his wife) lived a simple and yet profound life.  A native of North Carolinian, WWII Veteran, pastor, teacher, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, I feel blessed to have known him.

July 1943

One thing often mentioned at the funeral was that Grandpa M. was a prayer warrior.  And with his death, there's a great sense of the torch being passed.  God calls us to pray in all circumstances, and I remember God putting a desire in my heart during a revival to truly learn how to pray and the importance of prayer.  But witnessing someone actually live a life of "praying without ceasing" is profound and has strengthened / re-kindled my desire to make prayer much more of a priority in my life.

Grandpa praying at our wedding.

At the funeral, memories from each of the 26 grandchildren were read.  Every memory was touching as it revealed what a strong relationship he had with his family.  Below is what my husband wrote:

The first time I took the risk of being sarcastic with Grandpa, was at a family 4th of July cookout.  I stood next to him, looking out over all the activity, and said with a straight face: "You know this is all your fault, right?"  He paused, smiled with his eyes and told me: "Oh yes, son, I know.  I'm the Big Chief."       

And he couldn't have described himself better.  Because, it was the Big Chief who was always the most respected of the tribe.  It was the Big Chief who talked with The Spirit, and taught others to do the same.  It was The Big Chief who gave the rest of the tribe their purpose, passion, and identity.  Grandpa impacted us all in many ways, but one thing is for sure:  Whether you knew him as Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother, Soldier, Teacher, Pastor, or Friend.... to all of us, he truly was the Big Chief.

A picture taken before the funeral of Grandma M. with the grandchildren.

I'm very thankful for the heritage we've been given.

March 29, 1998

It's hard for me to share this post.  It's taken me a few days to decide whether to write it or not.  But I just couldn't let the week go by without mention.  It was 13 years ago this past Tuesday that my brother took his last breath.  and I still miss him terribly.  I so wish that he knew what was going on in my life now.  that he knew my husband.  that he knew my friends and extended family.  and just as important, I wish all of you knew him. 

I promised my brother the last time that we talked that I wouldn't forget him and that I wouldn't let others forget him either.  It's funny what you say when you don't know what the rest of your life will be like without that person.  I would say something different to him now.  But I know that he's okay with things just the way they were left said.  I am incredibly blessed that we got to say good-bye and tell each other just how much we meant to each other and how much we loved each other.  My brother and I were best friends.... from the time of building legos and playing outside, we were friends.  I think if I knew then what I know now, I would never have been able to say good-bye.  because it still hurts just as much now as then.  I still miss him and think of him so often.

When my brother died, I often heard the phrase of where one flower dies a seed is planted.  or something to that effect.  At the time, I think everyone meant all the lives he touched... all the people who accepted Christ because of my brother's testimony.  But to me, it has come to mean how he planted a seed in my life.  I so wish he knew who I've become.  His death had such a great impact of who I've become...  more than any other event besides giving my life to Christ.  Of course there are a lot of consistent, little things throughout life such as my parents raising me that have slowly helped grow my character.  But there is no doubt that I will always be a different person thanks to my brother's last year of life and death.  My love and willingness to love others is far greater thanks to my brother.  Sadly, he didn't get to see how I've changed while he was living. 

I would love to know who he would have become.  He made plans and was going to be a nurse.  I would have liked to see him graduate and accomplish his dreams.  He would have been a very good nurse. ...seeing as he was actually a very good patient. (He would tell the nurses thank you even after they just poked him with a needle.)  My brother was tall and handsome.  He loved Coke and chips & salsa.  I wonder how his tastes would have changed.  In the year that all of his classmates are celebrating their 30th birthday, he would have turned 30 this summer.

Just last weekend, as we were celebrating birthdays, my dad shared, with his eyes tearing, how this was not only a weekend of celebration but also of remembering.  There's a hole that you can't pretend isn't there.  My dad followed his comment by also saying how much he's thankful for everyone gathered around the table.  We were always raised that family was important.  No matter who you meet in your life, you'll always have your family.

p.s. my brother would have loved my wedding reception.  He was a Mr. Bojangles through and through.

my daffodils during this week's Spring snow.

Nine and Fine

Today is my nephew's 9th Birthday!  Almost a decade old and almost double digits.  That's too hard to believe.  I'm starting to think we should start cataloging all of our memories with my nephews before we forget them.  I'm afraid to share too many on my blog as my nephew's growing up and might not think they're as cute as I do.



It is amazing how many things we say because my nephew said them long ago.  He's outgrown them and yet, we still use the sayings often.  "They're hhhhoooge (huge)."  "I'll tell you something. Let's have pizza and cookies."  "Thank you Papaw.  This was the best show ever, ever, ever!"  "Look at 'em.  Isn't it so cute?  It's just so cuute." "Osh-kosh-bi-gosh!" "Twas the night before Christmas..."and reciting almost the ENTIRE poem. 

I remember when my sister told us that she was pregnant.  She asked me to go to one of her first doctor's visits.  We could hear his heart beat.  It was overwelming how fast his little heart was beating inside of her tummy.  I loved him immediately and even bought a frame to put his baby picture on my desk before he was born. 

 

And now, this is his last birthday before he turns over to the double digits.  I don't know what I'll do when he turns 16 or 21 or gets married.  I'm going to just have to let him grow up so he'll keep including me in his life.  We've had so much fun so far!!

p.s. Neither of these pics are too recent.  Sadly, the pictures I just took of him were on my sister's camera from his b-day party last weekend.