Cranberry Apple Crisp

This recipe comes from my stepmother and was a Thanksgiving staple throughout my childhood. For most of our adolescence, Ashley and I spent our Thanksgivings in North Carolina with that side of the family. Always a little offbeat or kooky, I loved spending time with this completely different brand of family. A vast network of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters, it was the kind of chaotic Thanksgiving that required unearthing the card tables from the garage, marathon games of cards and eventually hysterical pants-wetting laughter.

The now infamous Cranberry Apple Crisp often appeared in 2 Acts during the meal. First as a cranberry sauce-style substitute cozied up next to the turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. And later, as dessert with a scoop of ice cream for the pumpkin pie skeptics. We ate it hot, warm, and cold for breakfast the next morning. But no matter how differently we all enjoyed it, one thing always remained in common – our multiple servings left us all supine, moaning and giggling in our own gluttonous embarrassment.

To be certain, my Thanksgiving table of present looks little like the one of my youth. Unfortunate circumstances and complicated choices has left that table without its chairs. But we built a new table, with a new cast of wonderful and loved characters. And though the landscape, food and faces may change Ash and I always find room in the oven for the Cranberry Apple Crisp. Because sometimes looking back is all you need to push forward.