Shelly's Recipe

* TROPICAL STRAWBERRY PIE*

Category: Pies - Fruit

2 cups fresh strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 4-serving-size package regular coconut cream pudding mix
4 oz pkg cream cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
1 8-ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 9-inch baked pastry shell (I like it better with a graham cracker crust)
Sweetened whipped cream
Toasted shredded coconut

In a food processor or blender, place 1 cup of the strawberries. Cover and process or blend till finely chopped.

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in chopped strawberries and water. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and bubbly; cool.

Cream together the cream cheese and pudding mix and then add 1 1/2 cups milk. Stir in pineapple and pour into pastry shell. Halve remaining strawberries and arrange over the filling in 2 to 3 rows around the outer edge of the pie. Top pie with strawberry mixture. Loosely cover and chill 3 hours or till firm. Top each serving with whipped cream and toasted coconut.