The holidays are a time for families to come together and spend time with each other. It is also a time to whip up favorite dishes and enjoy some delicious homemade meals. Mrs. Beckman and Ms. Mazzanti shared two of their favorite holiday recipes that could hopefully make it to your Thanksgiving table this year too.

Extra Special Cranberry Sauce

Submitted by Mrs. Beth Beckman

Ingredients:

• 4-14 oz. cans of whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1-20 oz. can of crushed pineapple in juice (drain as much liquid as possible)
• 3 green apples, peeled, cored, small dice
• 1-14 oz. bag of chopped walnuts
• 1 small can of mandarin oranges in light syrup (drained)

Directions:

1. Mix everything together except the mandarin oranges in a large bowl.
2. Refrigerate overnight.
3. Decorate the top with mandarin oranges before serving.

Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Submitted by Ms. Emilia Mazzanti

Ingredients:  

Salted Caramel

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 Tablespoons salted butter
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon salt  

Pie Filling

• 6 large apples peeled and thinly sliced
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Use store-bought pie crust or your favorite pie crust recipe.

Directions:

Make the salted caramel sauce first.

1. Heat the granulated sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn.   
2. Once sugar is completely melted, add the butter. Be careful in this step because the caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter is added.
3. Stir the butter into the caramel until it is completely melted, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Slowly drizzle in ½ cup of heavy cream while stirring.
5. Allow mixture to boil for 1 minute.
6. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of salt. Allow to cool down before using.

Next, assemble the pie filling.

1. Place the apple slices into a very large bowl.
2. Add sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, flour, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
3. Gently stir to combine.

Then, put it all together,

1. Place one of your pie crusts in the bottom of a 9” or 12” pie pan.
2. Put in all of the apple filling and drizzle with ½ a cup of your salted caramel sauce.
3. Apply the top crust (either make a lattice top or poke holes in the top for vents).
4. Brush the top with an egg wash (1 egg and a little water beaten together) and sprinkle with a tablespoon of granulated sugar.

Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake at 400℉ for 20 minutes, then turn the oven down to 375℉ and bake for an additional 40 – 50 minutes. Allow the pie to cool and then serve with vanilla ice cream and more of the salted caramel sauce.

Enjoy!