Spicy & Sweet: No-Bake Fresh Strawberry Pie

This summer heat is quite dreadful especially when you don't have central air conditioning. Let me tell you, it gets hotter inside than out so my cooking and baking is on hold. While reading my May issue of Cooking Light on my Nook, I came across a "No-Bake Fresh Strawberry Pie" receipe. "No-bake" means no turning on the oven or stove, which means no extra sweat. On a Tuesday night after work, I picked up a few ingredients from Ralphs and headed home to start my no-bake dessert!

Ingredients:

25 chocolate wafers (such as Nabisco's Famous Chocolate Wafers) *

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 teaspoons canola oil

Cooking spray

Grounding the Oreos.

6 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup powdered sugar

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed

2 tablespoons seedless strawberry fruit spread

1 tablespoon Chambord (raspberry-flavored liqueur) **

1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 pound small strawberries, hulled and cut in half

*Even though this receipe calls for chocolate wafers, I used Oreos. If you want to use Oreos, 20 will be enough.

**For some reason Ralphs didn't have Chambord, so I didn't use it.

1. Place the wafers or Oreos in a food processor and process until finely ground. Place the chopped chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave at HIGH for 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds. Add the melted chocolate and oil to the ground cookies and process until well combined. Using a 9-inch pie plate, press the mixture on the bottom and sides of the plate (spray cooking spray before if desired, I did not). Place in freezer for 15 minutes (20 minutes if using Oreos).

Mix in melted chocolate and oil.

Spread throughout the bottom and edges of pie plate.

2. Place the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Fold in whipped topping (make sure it's thawed). Spread the mixture over the bottom of the crust. Place the strawberry jam in the microwave on HIGH for 10 seconds or until softened. Add Chambord and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth. Add the strawberry halves and toss to combine. Arrange the berries over pie. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.