1 1/4 c. sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. butter
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
5 c. thinly sliced, pared tart apples

TOPPING:

1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/3 c. apricot preserves

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan.

2. Into a medium bowl, sift flour with 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. With pastry blender, cut in 1/4 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add beaten egg, milk and vanilla extract; stirring with a fork until mixture is smooth - will take about a minute.

4. Spread batter evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Arrange apple slices, thin sides down and slightly overlapping, in parallel rows over the batter.

5. Make Topping: Combine sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. Sprinkle sugar mixture over the apple slices.

6. Bake 35 minutes or until the apple slices are tender. Remove to wire rack.

7. Mix apricot preserves with 1 tablespoon hot water. Brush over apples. Cut apple cake into rectangles, and serve with whipped cream, if desired. Makes 12 servings.