In case you haven't noticed, we are a little bit sentimental around this place. The first Thanksgiving Hugh and I spent together, four months after we moved in together (which was four months after we started dating), he was a bartender and I was working in finance. Only one of these career paths is a likely progression for an English major and it's not the one where you work alongside accountants.
We both really did not love our jobs. Bartending meant we were stuck in Savannah for Thanksgiving, spending the quintessential family holiday as a family of three (but that Henry can chow down on some turkey). Finance meant a pre-holiday office potluck Thanksgiving. Oh, the office potluck. It was in that sea of Green Bean Casseroles and store-bought pies that I discovered Cranberry Casserole.
We both really did not love our jobs. Bartending meant we were stuck in Savannah for Thanksgiving, spending the quintessential family holiday as a family of three (but that Henry can chow down on some turkey). Finance meant a pre-holiday office potluck Thanksgiving. Oh, the office potluck. It was in that sea of Green Bean Casseroles and store-bought pies that I discovered Cranberry Casserole.
circa Thanksgiving 2005All's well that ends well. Our first Thanksgiving ended up being the perfect start to making our own traditions. Fast forward five years. Hugh is no longer a bartender and I am no longer working in finance. We stopped living in sin and made it official a few years ago. Our family has grown by one (sweet Fletcher). We moved. Our menu has changed. But this casserole has made it onto our Thanksgiving table every year. It's nice when some things stay the same, isn't it?
Cranberry Casserole seems too simple to be as good as it is. But the tartness of the cranberries, the crunch of the nuts, the juiciness of the apples - it's just right; not too sweet and distinct enough to earn its place on your table. In short, it's just the thing missing from your menu. Make it.
Note: Use a variety of apple that is good for baking like Rome, Gala, Granny Smith, etc.
Cranberry Casserole seems too simple to be as good as it is. But the tartness of the cranberries, the crunch of the nuts, the juiciness of the apples - it's just right; not too sweet and distinct enough to earn its place on your table. In short, it's just the thing missing from your menu. Make it.
Note: Use a variety of apple that is good for baking like Rome, Gala, Granny Smith, etc.
Cranberry Casserole
1 bag fresh cranberries
3 medium apples, cored and diced
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup pecans, chopped
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 stick cold butter
Whisk flour, sugars, and cinnamon together. Toss dry ingredients with cranberries, apples, oatmeal, and pecans in a 3 quart casserole dish. Top with butter cut into pats.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, or apples are tender and casserole is bubbly. Enjoy it!
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, or apples are tender and casserole is bubbly. Enjoy it!
I don't even like cranberries and this sounds good!
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