icebox

I’m having a great day. I’m talking extra whipped cream on your frappacino kind of day. An accidental sale at Madewell kind of day. A find a twenty dollar bill in the pocket of your old jeans kind of day. Listen, we don’t need a reason to celebrate around here, but darnit, if we did we would have it. 

So what are we celebrating? For starters, Brett and I are celebrating 5 years of marriage! True, 5 years of marriage is nothing compared to 10, 20, or 50 years, but if you’re already married you know that most days it’s a miracle you made it past the first 12 months. Little victories, people, little victories!

Next, it’s my Mom’s birthday! This is the same lady who gave me life! The one who took care of me when I had the stomach bug and loved me through that whole year I had a big wart on my foot. My beautiful Mama is the most joyful, kind, servant-hearted human I know, and I love her so much that I could weep. (I’m not crying, you’re crying!) This year she celebrates that really special birthday that comes right after 49 and right before 51. I don’t feel bad about telling you her age because she’s a mega-babe and most of my guys friends from high school would confirm that. (You guys are gross, BTW.) 

Finally, we’re celebrating my half birthday! Yes, I know it’s a bit narcissistic of me to celebrate something so insignificant, but for all the shade people typically throw at turning 30, I’d say it deserves a little love. The past 6 months have been nothing short of a learning experience, and I feel like I want to drop some knowledge on the cool things I learned in my newest decade. So here’s a short list of the very important (and not-so important) things that 30 has taught me:

1. It’s okay to lie about your age. Your babysitter, the shoe salesman, or that cute guy at the bar will not have a clue. BUT! If you’re 30 and rocking it, shout it from the rooftops. If you feel like 25, dance like you’re 24. And if you’re sexy and you know it, let everyone else buy in too. 
2. Eating fast is a normal thing. Admittedly, this is not something I’m proud of. I’m actively working to slow down and enjoy my food instead of inhaling it like a Dyson Super-Vac. But if 30 (and motherhood) has taught me anything it’s that angry toddlers will wait for no one. That plate of leftovers will not eat itself. You dig?
3. Trends are weird. I’m not sure if it’s because I have a nosebleed section view of the fashion world or if I just have so little time to care, but what I do know is this: I recently saw a photo of Kim Kardashain wearing a pair of orthotic sneakers that are most commonly sported by the elderly population. Apparently these are cool. Thus, I know nothing. 
4. Botox is your friend. It is not just for people who are dying to look like Joan Rivers or Carrot Top. It is not strictly reserved for desperate housewives who spend their weekends drinking chardonnay and seducing cabana boys.  Botox will make you look like you, but with less wrinkles. I have been doing small treatments for almost year now, and is it worth every penny. 
5. It’s not too late. This is my new motto for pretty much everything. As in, it’s not too late to learn a new language. It’s not too late to be a tennis player. It’s not too late to teach your husband how to load the dishwasher. There’s a first time for everything, and this old dog plans on learning lots of new tricks.
6. With that being said, it’s not too late. As in, it’s not to late to say you’re sorry. It’s not too late to make things right. It’s not too late to be joyful! Peaceful! Humble! Graceful! When the world tells you you’re someone you don’t want to be, prove them wrong. It’s not too late to be a new creation; it’s not too late to be the person you want to be. 
7. Day drinking is totally acceptable. At 30, you’ve passed the college-age threshold where drinking beer instead of going to class is worrisome. If people judge you for cocktailing at noon, remind them that you’re a grown up. Do what you want. 
8. As you get older, so do other people. This is hard. Watching the people you love age and struggle feels so unnatural. It feels unjust, out of place. I don’t really have any wisdom to shed on this, but sometimes things aren’t okay and that’s okay. If you’re hurting in this area, know that you’re not alone.
9. Be teachable. For example, when my husband tells me I’m wrong, my instincts tell me to yell back, “SHUT UP, YOU’RE WRONG. YOUR MOM IS WRONG. YOUR FIRST NAME IS WRONG!” Instead, 30-1/2 years are telling me to respond by listening with patience and kindness. Something along the lines of, “You’re probably wrong, but feel free to explain your point of view.” Like I said, be teachable. I have a lot of room for growth in this area, but I’m told that acknowledgement is the first step.
10. Life is short. Eat dessert first. I learned this early on in life, but at 30, I’m embracing it. Let’s start living this truth with a slice of strawberry icebox pie.

This strawberry icebox pie is the bomb.com for about a hundred reasons. It’s completely no-bake; also, it can be made ahead in less that 30 minutes. and it tastes like a fluffy, frozen heavenly cloud. If that’s not reason enough to make this strawberry icebox pie forevermore, then 30 has taught me nothing.

To make your own strawberry icebox pie, we start with the crust! Graham crackers, pecans, brown sugar, and butter get a quick whiz in the food processor until a wet sand consistency comes together. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a 9″ springform pan and set it aside while you prep the rest of the pie.

For the filling, frozen strawberries are pulsed to icy slush and added to a smooth mixture made of whipped cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Once the berries have been added, fresh whipped cream is folded in to give the mixture some body. Essentially, we’re making thin no-churn ice cream here, one that will take on the semblance of an ice cream pie once frozen. Pour the mixture over top of the prepared crust and place the whole thing in the freezer to set up completely.

Covered with a piece of foil, this strawberry icebox pie will keep for several weeks, but I can promise you’ll want to dive in sooner than that. This is a really simple frozen treat to make, but it’s also highly adaptable too! You can sub in frozen raspberries, blueberries, or even peaches for the strawberries. Just pick your poison and enjoy.

I’m sharing this strawberry icebox pie with a number of other bloggers who think #strawberriesarethejam. Thanks to Becca, Ruth, Annie, and Joy for making this a fun collaboration. Please check out their sites to get links to a number of other strawberry-filled recipes! Thanks for celebrating with me today, and I hope you enjoy this strawberry icebox pie!

If you like this strawberry icebox pie, you should check out:

Vegan Coconut Lime Ice Cream Pie

Peppermint Bark Icebox Cake

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Roasted Strawberry and Buttermilk Popsicles

Strawberry Icebox Pie

Print Recipe

This strawberry icebox pie is a creamy, frozen dessert that is make head, simple, and requires less than 30 minutes of prep time. A sweet and salty crust, sweet and creamy filling, and tart fruit makes the most of this warm-weather treat that a crowd can enjoy!

• Author: Kate Wood
• Prep Time: 30
• Total Time: 360

Ingredients

For the crust:

• 9 (140 gm) graham cracker sheets
• ¾ cup (80 gm) pecans
• ¼ cup (50 gm) light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons (85 gm) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

• 16 ounces (450 gm) frozen strawberries
• 1–1/4 cup (300 gm) heavy whipping cream
• 1– 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 4 ounces (110 gm) cream cheese, at room temperature
• Extra whipped cream or fresh strawberries for serving, if desired

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Instructions

To prepare the crust:

1. Combine the graham crackers, pecans, light brown sugar, and salt in a food processors or blender and process until the crackers are in crumbs and everything is well combined. Pour the crumbs into a bowl and stir in the butter to combine. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a 9” springform pan and set aside while you prepare the filling.

To prepare the filling:

1. Set the strawberries out at room temperature while you prepare the whipped cream. In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl, use a whisk/whisk attachment to whip the 1-1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks have formed. Set aside. Process the frozen berries in a food processor or a blender until they have been reduced to a thick icy slush. Some larger (1/8-1/4”) chunks will still exist. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk until smooth. If the cream cheese will not incorporate, it could be that it is too cold, so set it out at room temp until you can cream the two together. Beat the berries into the cream cheese mixture. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then fold in the whipped cream. The mixture will still be a little loose, but be sure to not overwork it. Pour the mixture on top of the prepared pie crust, cover the pan with a sheet of plastic wrap, and place on an even surface in the freezer until solid, about 6 hours or overnight. Once frozen, set out 10 minutes at room temperature prior to slicing. Serve with additional whipped cream or fresh berries, if desired.

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