Apple Charlotte - tart apples

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Peel and core the apples and cut them in thin slices.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan and add the apples with the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons finely diced peel.
• Add sugar to taste (the amount depends on the sweetness of the apples) and just enough water to prevent the apples from sticking to the pan.
• Cook the apples for about 30 minutes, or until they begin to get mushy.
• Meanwhile, put the remaining butter in a small saucepan and bring to simmer gently, without browning.
• Skim off the foam that rises to the surface and set the butter aside.
• Remove the crusts from the bread.
• Using two medium-size ovenproof baking dishes with deep sides, dip the slices of bread in the butter and line the sides and the bottom.
• Arrange the cooked apples in the center and top with buttered bread.
• Bake, uncovered, for one hour.