Strawberry Glaze Pie

Summertime

Summertime

Baseball games, going to the lake, 

playing in the sprinkler, the ice cream trucks,

 and cookouts.

But nothing says summer like 

homemade strawberry pie!

We have never met

a strawberry pie we haven't liked.

But let me tell you this one is different.

Instead of a "normal" pie crust, this crust

is almost like a cookie. 

Thanks to our friend, Liz A. we have made 

this version for the last 5 or 6 years.

In fact I think that first summer 

Dakota and Jamey made this one 

over and over....and over.

You start with the basic stuff on hand.

Flour, brown sugar, butter, cornstarch, 

and red food coloring.

Fresh strawberries.

We weren't able to make it to 

the local farmer's market so 

we bought some at the grocery store.

Mix together the flour, brown sugar,

 and melted butter for the crust. 

Press the crust into the pan with your fingertips.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

Cool.

Take some beautiful strawberries (okay...ours aren't really 

beautiful but they will do).

Wash, hull, and slice the strawberries.

Then to make the glaze crush 1 cup of 

 strawberries and cook them 

with 1 cup of water for about 3 minutes.

Then sieve them.

This mean to separate the liquid

 from the cooked strawberries.

The easiest way to do this is like shown above.

Place a colander on top of an empty bowl.

Pour the cooked strawberry and 

water mixture into the colander.

Let all of the strawberry "juice" drain into the bowl.

 Toss the yucky cooked strawberries

 that you end up with.

This is the lovely red strawberry juice that 

comes through the colander. Keep this.

Put the berry juice back in the pan.

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl.

Stir the sugar/cornstarch mixture into the juice.

 Cook and stir until thickened.

Add a few drops of red food coloring.

Place half of the sliced strawberries

 into the cooled crust. 

Pour half of the glaze over them.

Repeat with the rest of the 

strawberries and glaze.

Chill.

This is the "naked" strawberry pie.

 Looks good.

But it would be even better 

all dressed up with whipped cream.

 Strawberry Glaze Pie

1 1/2 cups flour

4 Tbsp. brown sugar

3/4 cup butter, melted

2 lbs. strawberries,washed, hulled, and sliced.

1 cup water

3/4 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

red food coloring

Whipped cream or Cool Whip

Crust:

Stir together the flour and brown sugar.

Mix in the melted butter.

Press this mixture evenly along the 

bottom and up the sides of a pie plate.

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven

for about 10 minutes.

Do not over bake.

Cool.

Glaze:

Crush 1 cup of your strawberries.

Cook with 1 cup of water over 

medium heat for about 3 minutes.

Sieve.

Toss the yucky berries but keep the juice.

Combine 3/4 cup of sugar with 3 Tbsp. cornstarch.

Whisk into berry juice.

Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.

Add a few drops of red food coloring.

Place half of the remaining strawberries

 in the bottom of the pie crust.

Pour half of the glaze over the strawberries.

Add remaining strawberries and 

top with the rest of the glaze.

Chill.

Top with whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Sausage Breakfast Casserole

This is a delightful casserole

 to serve for breakfast or brunch. 

Add some fruit, maybe a toasted English muffin,

and you have breakfast. 

Add a small salad and a crusty roll
and you have brunch or lunch.

This recipe came from our Aunt Sharon.

(Debbie's aunt and Dakota's great aunt.)

She made it for some family members 

visiting her in Missouri and 

they loved it so much they passed it on.

We are glad they did. 

It has been a casserole that we have made 

for many a Christmas morning.

If you like you can make it the night before

 and refrigerate it.

Then pop it in the oven the next morning.

Start with eggs, cheese, milk, 

sausage, bread, 

and 

salt & pepper.

 Brown 1/2 pound of sausage.

Love that Mix 'N Chop tool from Pampered Chef!

 While the sausage is browning cube your bread.

You can use any kind of bread you like.

White, wheat, or mulit-grain. 

Whatever is your favorite.

Whisk your eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.

 Add the drained sausage and bread cubes 

to the egg mixture.

 Grate your cheese.

Gotta love that cheese.

Add it to the mixture.

Pour into a greased casserole dish.

We use a 9x9 inch square dish or 

this cute 6 x 10 inch casserole dish.

 Bake for about 50 minutes.

Yum...look at all that cheese!

 
Cheesy Sausage Breakfast Casserole

2 slices bread

1/2 pound sausage

1 pound cheddar cheese, grated

6 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

(you can add 1/2 cup diced onions if desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown sausage.

Drain well.

Cube bread slices.

Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together.

Add bread crumbs.

Mix.

Add sausage.

Mix.

 Add grated cheese.

Mix.

Pour into a greased casserole dish.

(9x9 inch or 6x10 inch)

Bake for about 50 minutes 

in a 350 degree oven.

Remove and let sit for about 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!