Strawberry Pudding Pie

This pie takes a few hours total time to complete--mostly because of "chill" time and "cool" time, but it is well worth the time! I had a guy over (we ate outside six feet apart due to COVID-19 concerns) and we had this pie as dessert. He gave it an 8 out of 10 and I gave it 8.5/9 out of 10. It's pretty good. I love the taste of homemade pudding; it is SOOOO much more delicious than box mix pudding! Enjoy!

1 baked pastry pie shell (9")
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds

1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. flour
3 Tbsp. corn starch
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
1 Tbsp powdered sugar

Glaze:
3 cups fresh strawberries, divided
1 cup water

1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch

Cover bottom of baked pie shell with the toasted almonds and set aside.

Pudding: In a small saucepan, combine sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and pour a small amount of pudding into the beaten egg and stir. Return egg mixture into the main saucepan and return to heat for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Beat whipping cream until thick and holds its shape. Stir in powdered sugar. When pudding has cooled to room temperature, fold in the whipping cream and pour into the pie shell. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Glaze: Crush one cup of the strawberries (I used a potato masher) and place in a saucepan with the water. Boil for 2 minutes uncovered. Strain through cheese cloth or fine sieve to collect the strawberry liquid; discard the fruit and set liquid aside to cool. In another saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in strawberry liquid until blended. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Cool for 20 minutes.

Slice remaining 2 cups of strawberries and arrange over chilled pudding in pie shell. Pour glaze over berries. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

I got this recipe from Taste of Home, Mom's Best Meals 2009