Passover, the ancient Jewish festival of freedom, begins tonight. Here are the things you can bet on happening at the Seder I’ll be attending at my parents’ house:

-My mom’s brisket (braised with leeks and apricots) will kick serious ass.

-My dad will dramatically exclaim, “Oh snap!” when he describes the Red Sea parting.

-This Charoset, symbolic of the sweetness of freedom as well as the mortar used by the enslaved Israelites to build Egyptian cities, will likely inspire some skepticism, as it includes pears in addition to the traditional apples, and is made with Zinfandel, rather than sweet Manischewitz wine. But everyone will try it, like it and enjoy the Seder all the more.