by Kylie Blanchard, staff writer

The cool air and crisp apples ready to be picked from hanging branches makes me think of one of my favorite family recipes for fall - Rug Pie. Now most people are a little taken aback by its name and maybe even hesitant to give it a try, but let me put your mind at ease by saying it's simply an easy apple pie with a fun story behind its name.

Almost every fall, my family gathers in the small community of Butte, where my grandparents grew up and lived, and where we have been gathering for hunting (and eating) for many years. Dessert is a high priority when it comes to meal preparation during these long weekends, and Rug Pie got its start when my aunt took a closer look at her kitchen rug one afternoon and saw there was an apple pie recipe printed on it. With a bucket full of fresh apples from the tree in the yard, she decided to give the recipe a whirl. It was met with rave reviews and a new dessert favorite was born. It doesn't get much better than a warm Rug Pie shared with family on a cool fall day.

As winter and the holidays approach, many people hunker down and start baking in preparation for upcoming celebrations with family and friends. For the winter issue of North Dakota Horizons, we want to hear your favorite Christmas cookie or holiday dessert recipes and the stories behind them. Submit your recipe along with a short back-story and your contact information to ndhorizons@btinet.net by November 1. If your recipe is chosen, it will be printed in the magazine's upcoming winter issue, you will recieve a free copy of the 2015 North Dakota Horizons calendar and a 1 year subscription of North Dakota Horizons.

We look forward to receiving your recipes and stories!

And in case you are wondering...here's my recipe:

Rug Pie 

6 apples

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tbsp. sugar 

1 egg

1 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. melted butter

Peel and cut apples and put in an 8-inch pie plate - sprinkle with 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1 tbsp. sugar. In a bowl, mix flour, 1 c. sugar and melted butter. Mix in egg. Spread over top of apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.