Eat it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without!

During the Great Depression, President Coolidge used the expression, "Eat it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without!" We have gotten away from that, but those of us with parents who experienced the Depression find it impossible to waste a perfectly good thing.

Last week I made challah and raisin bread. That post is here.

Alas, the raisin bread, while delicious, was ugly, with huge holes, so that it could not really be toasted or even buttered. What to do?

I asked for suggestions, but prefaced the request with, "We hate bread pudding and French toast." Those are the two most famous uses for old bread. What a shame that we don't like those, because I do have all the ingredients. Betsy came up with a great idea. How 'bout Apple Charlotte. I had never heard of it or tasted it, so she sent a link:
http://atasteofhistorywithjoycewhite.blogspot.com/2014/10/apple-charlotte-historic-food.html
I can do that! For those who don't like reading recipes, Apple Charlotte is basically apple pie with a buttered toast crust.

First cook the apples with a bit of water, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger.

Then line your pan with buttered bread and put in the apples.

Top with more bread and bake at 400º.

(I got to use my new USA bread pans - which a bought after I watched poor D scrubbing out bread pans. These have a quick-release finish that makes clean-up a snap. I love the muffin tins, too.)

After it cools a bit, turn it out onto a serving plate.