Thanksgiving – Food – Gratitude

Surrounded by friends and family, we’re happily discussing cell phone use at the table, aches and pains, and grades in school. Before you know it, we’re on to the heated debate of foreign politics!

Ever sat through a four hour Thanksgiving dinner that ended with relatives duking it out? Then you know ahead of time to make the food more entertaining than the feuding debaters. If you choose to throw food at Thanksgiving, trust me. Sweet potatoes stain less than cranberries!

Thanksgiving gives us the rare opportunity to show love and hospitality to those around us. So give thanks to those you love by preparing dishes that feature all of the season’s best, like Sweet Potato Salad, Pumpkin Pie, Roasted Squash and sautéed Brussel Sprouts. After all, everyone’s there for the food and gratitude, so share food and conversation that engages the mind.

French Cranberry Apple Pie

This recipe honors all the elders in our lives.

INGREDIENTS

Crust

• 1/2 pkg Refrigerated Pie Crusts.

Filling

• 4 cups (1 L) sliced peeled cooking apples (4 medium)
• 2 cups (500 mL) fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground nutmeg

Topping

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) packed brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon
• Dash nutmeg
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) butter or margarine
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) chopped pecans

INSTRUCTIONS

• Heat oven to 375ºF. Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie pan as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie.
• In large bowl, gently mix apples and cranberries. In small bowl, mix remaining filling ingredients. Add dry ingredients to fruit; toss to coat. Pour into crust-lined pan.
• In small bowl, mix all topping ingredients except butter and pecans. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle evenly over filling. Cover edge of crust with 2 to 3 inch strip of foil to prevent excess browning; remove foil last 15 minutes of baking.
• Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until apples are tender, and crust and topping are golden brown. If desired, serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Wishing you a Bon Thanksgiving Appetit!