After the Jews fled Egypt, they wandered in the desert for 40 years. They lived in homes called sukkoth, or booths. The holiday, lasting eight or nine days in autumn, celebrates the end of the growing season, when the fruits and vegetables are harvested. This year it's September 21 to 29.

Although Harvest-Festival Fruit Strudels are connected to Sukkoth, you can make them any time of the year because dried fruits and fresh apples, which go into the pastry, are always available. The only fat in this recipe comes from the small amount of margarine and oil used to brush the sheets of phyllo.