Fresh Apple Bread

It must be autumn. Baking has begun. I already have a double batch of peanut butter cookies into the freezer. Last week I went and picked up some apples from the local orchard, but wanted to try something other than pie. I made this for the folks at ATD, though there's another in my freezer for later.

Fresh Apple Bread

1 c Sugar
1 ts Baking soda
1/2 c Shortening
1 c Broken pecan pieces
2 Eggs; beaten
1 1/2 tb Buttermilk
1 c Tart apples; ground or grate
1/2 ts Vanilla
2 c All purpose flour; sifted
3 tb Sugar
1/2 ts Salt
1 ts Cinnamon

Cream sugar and shortening; add eggs and apples. Sift dry ingredients together. Mix with sugar mixture; add pecans. Stir in buttermilk and vanilla. Pour into greased 10x6x3 inch loaf pan. Mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over top. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Notes: Nice taste but perhaps a bit on the dry side for me. I have a few alternate recipes to try, though, and plenty of apples left, so I'm sure I'll hit on the one I want eventually. Oh, and we used walnuts instead of pecans.