Apple Bread with Streusel Topping w/Optional Caramel Glaze

Simply Delicious.  I love the added caramel glaze, but if you want to save the calories, it's still divine without.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 TBSP. lemon juice

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 apples of your choice (I like gala), peeled and chopped in food processor

Streusal Topping:

2 TBSP. flour

1 TBSP. Sugar

3 TBSP. Brown Sugar

1 TBSP. butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.  Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl.  Beat in eggs, lemon juice and vanilla.  Add the four mixture to the butter mixture and stir just until moistened.  Add apples and stir gently to combine.  Spoon half of the batter into a buttered 9x5 inch loaf pan.  Sprinkle with streusal topping.  Spoon remaining batter into the pan and sprinkle with the remaining topping.  Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool before slicing.

Streusal Topping:  Combine all the ingredients in a small ziploc bag.  Mix together until crumbly.

Optional Caramel Glaze:

4 TBSP. butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Melt the butter in a small saucepan.  Add the sugar and cook until sugar is dissolved.  Add whipping cream and bring to a low boil for 2 minutes.  Pour glaze over the bread.