Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter the bottom of the French oven.

Fill a large bowl with water. Pour half of the lemon juice into the water and place the apples into the bowl to keep them from browning.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and almond paste. Slice in the butter and, using the pastry cutter or using your fingers, work the flour mixture until it looks like crumbs.

Ina small bowl, combine the remaining lemon juice and vanilla.

In another bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Remove the apples from the bowl of water and pat very dry. Wipe out the bowl they were in, toss the apples back in the bowl, pour in the lemon juice and vanilla mixture and toss well to coat.

Sprinkle the flour and sugar mixture over the apples, toss to coat, then pour the apples into the French oven. Sprinkle the topping all over the top of the apples then slice small pieces of the butter over the top.

Place the French oven on the baking sheet and bake 1 hour, until it is bubbling and golden brown.