Fresh Strawberry Almond Pie

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon almond extract 
• 0.3 cup blanched slivered almonds 
• 0.3 cup butter melted
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 1.5 cups pecan shortbread cookies crushed
• 6 cups strawberries fresh hulled
• 0.3 cup water 
• 1 cup sugar white

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• oven

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In small bowl, stir together all crust ingredients. Press on bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
3. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool completely.
4. Mash enough strawberries to equal 1 cup. In 2-quart saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in mashed berries and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a full boil (8 to 15 minutes). Boil 1 minute; remove from heat.
5. Stir in salt and almond extract; cool 10 minutes. Fill baked crust with remaining fresh strawberries; pour cooked mixture over fresh berries. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.
6. Garnish with whipped cream and walnuts if desired.