Mom's Strawberry Cream Pie

1 Unbaked pie shell
2 small OR 1 large package strawberry jello
1/4 c. flour
1 cup water
1 quart strawberries - hulled and sliced
1 8oz package cream cheese - softened
2 cups 10x sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bake pie shell according to package directions.  Cool. Yes, I cheated and used a store bought crust.  As long as you buy a good brand it will taste ok when you in a time crunch.

In a small saucepan, mix jello and flour with a whisk.  Add water.   Bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Cook until thickened stirring occasionally - about 5 to 7 minutes.  The sauce will become glossy and be very red.  When thick remove from heat and cool.  DO NOT OMIT the cool part.  If the sauce is too hot it will melt the cream cheese mixture!

Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl on high speed until no lumps remain.

 

Spread the cream cheese mixture in the cooled pie shell.  Be sure to spread it up the side also.   

 

Place the strawberries on top of the cream cheese.

Spoon the sauce over the strawberries covering all the berries and cream cheese.  Refrigerate. Enjoy!

Note:  If the sauce has firmed up too much to spoon, return it to the heat for a few minutes to liquify a little bit.