Apple Bread

This recipe came from my closest sister. I haven't made it in years and was craving it. It's a quick bread-if you consider a bread that has to bake for an hour a quick bread. Ha!

Apple Bread

2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 cups finely chopped or shredded apples
1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Topping: 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan. Sift the first 4 ingredients together (you can just whisk them together). Separately cream the shortening and sugar together, add the eggs and then the dry ingredients. Add the apples (and nuts if using). For the apples, I prefer Granny Smith or Gala. Two medium sized apples is enough for this recipe. I leave the skin on, but you could peel the apples. Put the batter in the pan and sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 1 hour. A toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs. Check at 40 minutes. If the top of the bread is getting too dark, just lay a piece of foil on top. No need to crimp it down though.

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