Lunch: Strawberry Cream Pie

A dark-chocolate crust and jewel-bright berries brushed with jelly turn this down-home pie into a company-worthy fare.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar, divided
3 cups half-and-half
6 egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (9-oz.) package chocolate wafer cookies
1/2 (4-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 qt. fresh strawberries
1/4 cup red currant jelly
1 tablespoon orange liqueur

Instructions

Whisk together first 3 ingredients and 2/3 cup sugar in a medium-size heavy saucepan. Whisk together half-and-half and next 2 ingredients in a small bowl; gradually add to cornstarch mixture, whisking constantly.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat, and transfer to a bowl; cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 °. Pulse wafer cookies and chopped chocolate in a food processor 8 to 10 times or until finely crushed. Stir together cookie crumb mixture, melted butter, and remaining 1/3 cup sugar; firmly press mixture on bottom, up sides, and onto lip of a lightly greased 9-inch pie plate.
Bake at 350 ° for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and cool completely (about 30 minutes).
Spoon chilled half-and-half mixture into prepared crust. Cut 8 to 10 strawberries in half, and arrange around outer edge of pie (leaving tops on, if desired); hull and slice remaining strawberries, and arrange in center of pie.
Cook jelly in a small saucepan over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until melted. Remove from heat, and stir in liqueur. Brush jelly mixture gently over strawberries. Chill, uncovered, 30 minutes.

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