Strawberry Shortcake

by Paula Dean

I'm sitting in a massage chair, getting a pedicure last week, and they have Paula Dean on their big screen TV. She is making this amazing looking strawberry shortcake. My SIL decides she has to try it. I've NEVER had a better strawberry shortcake.

1 large angel food cake (we used a box mix for pound cake...yummy)

For the custard:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container cool whip, thawed.

For the glaze:
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons strawberry gelatin (recommended: Jell-O)
1 cup water
2 cups fresh strawberries, cut in 1/2 (if berries are extra large, they can be cut into quarters)
Whole fresh strawberries and mint leaves, for garnish

Slice cake, using a serrated knife, horizontally into 3 equal layers. (we just cut slices and layered them)

For the custard:

Mix together cream cheese, condensed milk, and whipped topping in a bowl; set aside.

For the glaze:

In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar, cornstarch, and gelatin; add water. Cook stirring over medium heat until thick. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Fold in strawberries.

For assembly:

Place 1 layer of cake in a large clear bowl. Top with a layer of glaze, followed by a layer of custard mixture. Repeat layering in this order for remaining cake, glaze and custard. Top cake with 3 whole fresh strawberries and fresh mint leaves.