The Fourth of July is just days away! Like, TWO DAYS away!! Are you getting together with family over the holiday weekend? Still trying to think of a tasty dessert that is simple and quick to make? One that won’t require a lot of “oven” time? Especially if you’re into day 5 of an expected 12 day heat wave? I have just what you’re looking for – “Big Boy” Strawberry Pie! Yes, that’s right, the same strawberry pie you used to get, as a kid, when you went to Big Boy, with your family.
Not only is this pie, which is made with fresh strawberries, fast and easy to make; if you’re in Michigan, right now it’s super easy to find delicious, locally grown strawberries. ( Mid-June and into July is Michigan’s strawberry season.)
I love strawberry season! We had a strawberry patch for 20 years. While it was an absolute pain to maintain – weeds, weeds and more weeds coupled with grumbling kids who hated picking berries and helping to weed; it was still just the best. I loved it when our kids would run out to the berry patch and grab a handful of berries as they played in the yard. Or when our friend’s son Jax would visit and the first thing he would ask is if he could pick some berries. You just can’t beat a homegrown strawberry. Especially the first berry of the season, I always got to eat the first berry. And for the first week or two, before they were all coming on at once; Kevin would go out before work and pick a ripe berry or two and leave them for me on the kitchen table with the newspaper. And I made lots of fresh strawberry pies. I really love strawberry season.
I hadn’t been thinking about strawberry pie the other day, when we stopped at a small Amish market to pick up some fresh strawberries. I was thinking about freezing some of them, eating others in my oatmeal for a couple of mornings, having some as a snack or maybe in a salad. I thought about the pie after Brent said we should have a cookout at their house on Sunday, since the guys would be grinding feed that day.
So I made the pie. I didn’t think to take any pictures until it was time to cut it. I was pretty sure I’d already posted this recipe before, but on a whim decided to take a picture just in case. Later I looked through my notes of my previous posts and I didn’t find any mention of strawberry pie. After our lunch, I actually had a couple of pieces to bring home. The next day I took the pictures of the last slice of pie.
Enough chatter. Time is short and if you want to put this pie together, you may still have to run after some ingredients.
I can tell you this is not a family recipe passed down over generations. It’s not a “secret”. It’s a recipe found in countless church cookbooks, and for good reason. It’s comfort food, a seasonal indulgence; a cool, sweet slice of summer. (I’ve based my “allergy friendly” recipe on a recipe I found in the ‘St. Mary Church, Westphalia Michigan – 150th Anniversary Cookbook pg. 203 with three contributors named. Thank you ladies, it’s delicious!)
“Big Boy” Strawberry Pie – Free of Dairy, Egg and Wheat
1 Wholly gluten free Pie Shell (Wholly Wholesome) – Bake as instructed on label. Let cool.
4 cups fresh strawberries – halved
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 – 3 oz. pkg. strawberry jello
3 Tablespoons potato starch
½ cup water
Combine sugar and 1 cup water, bring to a boil. Stir in a paste of the potato starch and ½ cup of water. Boil until clear and thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in jello. Cool. Fold in berries and pour into baked pie shell. Place pie in refrigerator for several hours until jello sets. Serve pie with a dollop of So Delicious CoCo Whip on each slice. (Before we had dairy allergies in our house, I used to top the whole pie with whipped topping and garnish with fresh strawberries on top. Now I simply serve it with a dollop of whipped topping on each slice; giving everyone the option of either the Coco Whip or otherwise a dairy based whipped cream on their individual slice.)
Again, can you see the berries?
Look at that!
Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping.
Have a great Fourth of July! Be safe, stay healthy.
God Bless America!!
Brenda
Pie Crust: (Found in Better Health, Fresh Thyme)
https://www.whollywholesome.com/ourproducts-gluten-free.php
So Delicious Coco Whip (Found in Better Health, Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme)
Disclaimer:
These recipes and tips are not guaranteed to work or be safe for everyone. Allergies are extremely complicated and vary for each individual. It is still your responsibility to read labels to ensure your safety. I cannot be held liable for any ill effects from using my tips to avoid your allergies. (Sorry guys, I don’t foresee any problems, but Momma’s gotta cover her backside, ya know?) Just read your labels! Do your research!