Apple Brown Betty

My grandma's name is Betty, so this lip-smacking apple treat holds a special place in my heart. And belly. But, as much as I'd like to give my dear sweet granny credit for this dessert, it came about long before her.

No one really knows who the real "Brown Betty" was, as there are a number of stories out there. I like to think of her as a tough and mighty pioneer woman who could wield both knife and saucepan like no other. All while breastfeeding one child, consoling another, cooking supper, laying a table for eight, and building a fire in the corner.

Ah, there's just something us modern women lack that those tough old gals of yesteryear possessed.

But, thankfully, we have iPhones.

Apple Brown Betty

2 cups coarse day-old bread
6 cups baking apples (e.g. Granny Smith)
½ cup sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
¼ cup water
2 Tablespoons butter
½ cup raisins, optional

Grease an 11 x 9 baking dish. Sprinkle approximately 1/3 of the breadcrumbs over the bottom of the baking dish. Place ½ of the apples over the bread crumbs.

Mix together the sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Sprinkle half of this sugar mixture over the apples. Add 1/3 of the breadcrumbs, another layer of apples, then sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mixture. Top with the final 1/3 of the breadcrumbs (we also sprinkled a it of oatmeal on top. Not traditional, but good texture).

Splash the lemon juice and water over the top of the Apple Brown Betty. Cut the butter up in small chunks and place around on top of the apple casserole.

Bake covered at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven, cover, and bake an additional 15 minutes.