Scalloped Apples

4  medium  tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

1/2  cup  sugar

1/4  tsp  cinnamon

1/4  tsp  ground cloves

1/2  cup  butter (no substitutes)

2  cups  fresh white bread cubes (4 slices bread)

Toss apples with sugar and spices. In skillet, melt butter; add bread pieces, stirring until crispy and slightly brown. In a greased 8-in. pan, layer half the apples, then half the crumbs. Repeat.

Bake at 350º for 45 minutes or until tender. (Loosely cover with foil for the first 20 minutes of baking.)

Also, rather than layering, I usually end up putting all the bread crumbs on top for extra crunchiness. For Thanksgiving and large gatherings, triple the apples and spices, and double the butter and crumb topping, using a 13X9 casserole dish.