Upside Down Apple Gingerbread

1/4 cup butter -- melted

2 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

GINGERBREAD 1/2 cup butter -- melted

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 cup hot tea

Pour butter into a 9-inch square baking pan. Arrange apples over butter; sprink le with brown sugar and set aside. For gingerbread, combine butter, molasses, s ugars and egg in a mixing bowl; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to sugar mixture alternately with hot tea. Mix well; pour over apples. Bake at 350F for

45-50 minutes or until the cake tests done. Cool for 3-5 minutes. Loosen

sides and invert onto a serving plate. Serve warm.

YIELD: 9 servings