Apple Cranberry Pie

Apple Cranberry Pie

Dorcas Annette Walker

I’ve made it a habit to use the month of November to focus on things I am thankful for. I always try to have a thankful spirit, but it is easy in the rush of life to get sidetracked and concentrate on things that need accomplished or changed rather than counting my blessing for what I already have. Thanksgiving is ideal for showing our thankfulness by reaching out and sharing with others. At an early age I learned to share my mother on holidays. When working on the surgical team at a local hospital, Mom was often was on call over weekends and especially holidays. Often our mother was paged on Thanksgiving for an emergency surgery leaving us with an empty spot at the table. When my husband and I pastored churches out of state and were unable to get back home, we used Thanksgiving to reach out to others in the area. There always was someone, especially elderly folk, who were alone. Each of those Thanksgivings became a memorable time. At one church we attended a local assisted-living home during holiday celebrations in order to be a family for a man, who attended our church and was all alone. It meant juggling our schedule that was already packed with church activities, but seeing Gene’s face beam every time we showed up was worth the extra effort.

I want to share with you though one time I almost missed out on sharing with someone. I was right in the middle of last minute preparations for our Thanksgiving dinner when my husband came into the kitchen to inform me that a neighbor boy was at our door. Billy’s folk rented a run-down trailer down the road from us; these renters rotated every couple of months. The parents left their kids to fend on their own and invariably the kids would find their way to our house. When my husband suggested asking Billy in for Thanksgiving I said, “no”. We already had our daughter, her husband, grandkids, and another special guest. My table was festive with holiday decorations, each place was set, and I was in the process of putting the food on the table. I figured we could always feed Billy another time. A minute later my husband with a sheepish grin on his face came back with Billy. Billy, who was skinny and small for his age, loaded his plate with everything that was passed around. While my grandkids picked at their food, I tried not to stare at Billy, who crammed food into his mouth devouring a huge plateful and a second helping until I was afraid he’d become sick. Billy left with a big grin on his face, a bulging stomach, and some food to take home with him. I’ve always been so thankful since that my husband overruled my decision and interrupted my perfect Thanksgiving dinner. A couple of months later Billy and his family were gone.

This holiday season add a bit of zest to your apple pie with cranberries. My Apple Cranberry Pie will make a colorful dessert to finish up your meal. You can also add chopped nuts if you wish. The Apple Cranberry Pie takes around fifteen minutes to prepare (not counting baking time) and serves eight.

Apple Cranberry Pie

Enough dough for a double nine inch pie. Roll out the pie crust and line the bottom of the pie pan.

In a medium size bowl mix together:
5 to 6 large apples (your choice peeled and sliced)
1 c cranberries
1 c sugar
2 tb self-rising flour
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
Pour into the pie then cover with a top crust. Poke holes in the top crust with a knife. Bake at 350º for one hour until the apples are soft.

Glaze:
Mix together ¼ c of powdered sugar and 1 tb of warm water. Spread on the pie crust while still warm. Can garnish the pie with fresh cranberries!

Weekly tip: Cranberries can be bought in bulk while in season and stored in the freezer all year long to enjoy out of season. Freeze cranberries in the package they came in!

Dorcas Annette Walker is a published author, columnist, speaker, freelance magazine writer, and photographer from Jamestown, Tennessee. Contact her at: dorcaswalker@twlakes.net. For more recipes check out her Creative Mountain Cookin page at: www.dorcasannettewalker.com