Strawberry Pie Recipe Anyone?

[ExitPursuedByAKitten]

I have some strawberries that are past their best and thought I would put them in a pie. My mum used to make one and it was delicious, but she died so I cannot ask her for the recipe. I can't be arsed with gelatin etc - can I just chuck the strawberries between two layers of pastry, sprinkle a bit of sugar over and then cook, or does it have to be more complicated?

My recollection of baking with strawberries is that because they are 90% water they give off an almost unbelievable amount of liquid which you need to soak up somehow.

I usually use a tablespoon of flour to thicken pies, but apparently my go-to baking goddess website, smitten kitchen, found that mixing in flour and even cornflour wasn't enough for strawberries and had to use tapioca pearls mixed in with the fruit to soak up the juice. The idea of the tapioca pearls in a pie is a bit to me so I would try tapioca flour or arrowroot.

Another trick is apparently mixing in a grated apple that's had the moisture squeezed out of it, so the pectin in the apple helps firm up the juices, and pre-baking the bottom crust of the pie the way you would with a tart shell so that it holds up better and doesn't get sodden.

How about just using them in an Eton Mess? Good way to use up strawbs that may be slightly past their best. Or make strawberry ice cream, or use them for smoothies. Pie doen't sound the best idea, I think the filling will just go to an unappealing mush.

Or get a sponge flan case, a tub of mascarpone and a bit of caster sugar. Mix the slightly crushed strawberries with the mascarpone and some caster sugar to taste, spead in flan case. Use the best strawberries sliced on top to decorate.

I'd make muffins! Usually do that with any summer fruit that's starting to look a bit ropey. Use this recipe, substituting the strawberries (chopped up) for the blueberries. I usually use a bit more fruit than suggested there though. Last time I did this with some sorry looking blueberries I found at the back of the fridge and a good handful of frozen raspberries that were lurking in the freezer, they were delicious!

Thanks ladies. I ended up mixing them with some mascarpone and they were yummy. Still fancy my mum's pie though.

This one from Simon Hopkinson is good - uses ground almonds to soak up all the juice - sure it won't match your mum's but might be worth a try!