Fantastic Apple-Cranberry Apricot Matzoh Kugel! - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 large baking apples (use Granny smith if possible, cored and medium diced)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
6 plain matzohs (broken into 2-3-inch pieces, use unsalted matzoh)
1 cup warm water
8 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon (can use more)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup melted butter (or use margarine)
1 1/4 cups dried cranberries (I use Ocean Spray Craisins for this)
1 1/4 cups dried apricots, chopped coarsely
5 tablespoons cold butter (cut into small pieces) or 5 tablespoons margarine (cut into small pieces)
2 tablespoons sugar (use white or brown sugar for sprinkling)

Preparation

Set oven to 350\u00b0F.
Grease a 3-quart casserole dish (you can also make this in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, I used my 3-quart Corning Ware casserole dish for this).
In a bowl toss the apple pieces with 1/3 cup brown sugar (can use less than 1/3 cup sugar if desired) and 1/4 cup fresh orange juice; set aside.
In another bowl soak the matzoh pieces in 1 cup warm water until soft but not mushy; set aside.
While the matzoh is soaking, in a large bowl whisk the eggs until well blended; add in the salt, cinnamon, 1-1/2 cups sugar, melted butter, cranberries (or Craisins) and chopped dried apricots; mix to combine.
Gently squeeze the liquid from the matzohs (don't worry about squeezing all of the water out completely!) add to the egg mixture along with the chopped apples; mix very well.
Transfer the mixture into greased baking dish.
Sprinkle lightly with about 2 tablespoons white or brown sugar, then dot all over with the cold butter pieces.
Bake covered with foil for about 40 minutes.
Remove from oven uncover, then return and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes, or until the casserole is set.
Serve at room temperature.