This is a perfect pie to make after a trip to the berry patch. Some of the berries are cooked down to make a glaze that is then drizzled over a mountain of fresh berries. Smaller berries work best for this pie, as they create little pockets for the glaze to run into, thus cementing the pie together. If you have big berries, cut them in half. This recipe is adapted from Jim Fobel’s Old-Fashioned Baking Book: Recipes from an American Childhood
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine wafer crumbs, sugar, vanilla and butter; press into a 9-inch pie dish. Bake for 10 minutes or until set and barely beginning to brown. Cool.
Quarter 2 cups strawberries and combine with 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat while mashing strawberries. Cook about 2 minutes or until very juicy. Push mashed berries through a sieve, pressing with a spoon and discarding solids that remain. Measure juice and add water to measure 1 cup.
Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in strawberry juice and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Boil 1 minute or until translucent. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Place 1/3 of the remaining berries in pie shell; drizzle with 1/3 of glaze. Repeat twice. Chill 2 hours or until set. Serve cold with whipped cream, if desired. Serves 8.