Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 lbs. Granny Smith apples (about 4 large), peeled and cute into 1/4-inch-think wedges
Streussel Topping
Pour 2 tbs. melted butter in a small bowl, and stir in 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tbs. all-purpose flour, and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon.  Add 1 cup chopped pecans if you’d like.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350.  Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow plan 5 – 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.  Stir together butter and next three ingredients; add to butter mixture, stirring until blended.  Stir in apples and 1 cup pecans. (Batter will be very thick, similar to a cookie dough.)  Spread batter into a lightly greased 13 X 9 inch pan.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool completely in pan or a wire rack.