Sandi’s Apple Bread

3 cups regular flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 generous cups peeled and chopped apples (I just peel and core these then make a chunky applesauce with the apples in the food processor)
2 sticks (1 cup) melted butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs, beaten with a fork
3 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
zest of either 2 small oranges or 1 large one (about the size of a softball)
freshly-squeezed orange juice from the orange (about 1/4 cup)

Preheat oven to 300-degrees F. Spray two 9-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
Mix all dry ingredients. Whisk eggs, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Add to dry ingredients and stir (by hand) just a little (like two stirs). Add the apples (and nuts and/or cranberries, if desired) and the butter, and stir by hand just until mixed (don't overmix, and don't use an electric hand mixer).
Divide batter between two pans, and bake for about 90 minutes.

Source: Sandi