There’s nothing like being with family for the holidays. On most years my sister Francine comes to Ohio with her 2 children and we celebrate together. This year is a special year for our family. My niece Brette, my oldest sister’s daughter, is getting married this spring and her bridal shower was this past weekend. While it has nothing to do with apple kugel or Passover, it was because of the shower that we ended up staying in New York to share the holiday with my family. I must say the party was amazing! My niece was beautiful, her friends adorable, there was so much love in the room it was contagious and the restaurant fantastic. As I watched her open gifts, my younger niece Amanda sat beside her handing her presents. I became teary at the sight as I remembered Brette sitting beside me 23 years ago this very same weekend. My mother would say the ball is round and she would be right!

So off we went to New York to spend the holiday with both of my sisters and their families. I have to be honest, I feel like a bee without a hive, as I’m usually the one making a large Seder in my home. However, celebrating a Jewish Holiday in New York is really the best! Not only is most of our family there, but my sister Rochelle is an amazing cook. In addition, the food that is available for the holiday is expansive.

So there we were, all 18 of us sitting around her very long table; all happy to be together. We were there to share in the traditional  reading from the Hagaddah, share a special Seder, and reflect on what freedom really means to us as people and to the Jewish people specifically. This year included for the first time my great niece Arielle she is 10 months old and just the cutest! There she sat at the head of the table enjoying her chicken soup along with the rest of us. My sister did most of the cooking but had a couple of kugels on the side which she purchased from her kosher butcher. There was broccoli kugel, spinach kugel and an apple kugel. Ahh, finally a mention of the apple kugel! I have been on a mission since I came home to find a recipe close to what I ate there. I searched cookbooks, websites and magazines to try and find something close to what it tasted like. This apple kugel comes very close and is absolutely delicious. A friend of mine sent her version to me a few years ago but I never tried it. Now I felt I had to. Of course, I had to put my own spin on it and cut the sugar down by almost 1/2. When I make it again, I will try it with less sugar and if it’s a success, I’ll update this one. In any case, I hope you enjoy it! Now if I only had a recipe for their broccoli kugel or spinach kugel, I’d be all set!  If you have one to share, please do.

4 large granny smith apples cored and diced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup orange juice, or pineapple juice
6 boards of matzoh
8 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup extra light olive oil, butter or margarine melted
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup dried apricots diced
1  1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon almond extract (kosher for Passover)
1/2 to 1 cup walnuts finely chopped and 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 9 x 13 casserole dish or 1/2 steamer tray sprayed or rubbed with oil.

In medium size bowl, mix the diced apples, brown sugar and orange juice then set aside.

Break the matzoh into 2 to 3 inch pieces and soak in warm water until soft but not mushy.

While the matzoh is soaking, beat the eggs, salt, sugar, cinnamon, oil or melted margarine, and almond extract in a large bowl. Add the raisins, apricots and matzoh (squeeze out the water before adding). Mix together well and if using, sprinkle with the walnut mixture. I used cinnamon sugar only on the one above.

Bake for one hour uncovered. Check on it after 45 minutes and if the top is becoming brown too early, place aluminum foil on top. Remove when done and let cool. Place in refrigerator if not using right away.