Berry Truffle Pie



1 recipe Pastry for Single-Crust Pie or 1/2 of a 15-ounce package refrigerated piecrusts (1 crust)
1 6-ounce package (1 cup) semisweet chocolate pieces
1 tablespoon butter
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons orange liqueur (optional)
1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 quart whole strawberries, rinsed and stems removed
1 cup mixed berries, such as blueberries and raspberries
2 tablespoons red currant jelly
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar

1. Prepare and/or bake pastry shell; set aside. In a saucepan combine chocolate and butter. Heat and stir over medium-low heat until melted. Add cream cheese and liqueur (if desired). Heat and stir until combined. Remove from heat. Stir in the powdered sugar. Spread in baked pastry shell. Arrange strawberries and mixed berries on filling, placing strawberries stem ends down. Melt jelly; brush over berries. Cover; chill for 4 hours.
2. Let pie stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Beat whipping cream with the 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and the orange peel until soft peaks form. Spoon or pipe whipped cream into center of pie.

Yield: 8 servings