1 1/2 c. sm. bread chunks
3 tbsp. melted butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 1/2 c. diced or sliced green apples
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)

Combine bread chunks with melted butter. Line bottom of baking dish with 1/3 of the bread mixture. Prepare apples. Sift together brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add lemon and vanilla. Place 1/2 of apples in dish over bread and butter. Cover apples with 1/2 sugar mixture. (If apples are not tart, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon lemon juice.) Cover apples with 1/3 bread mixture. Add remaining apples and sprinkle with sugar mixture. Place last 1/3 of bread mixture on top. Cover dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove cover. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve with hard sauce, ice cream, whipped cream, or vanilla yogurt.