Pear Cake Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 1-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
  
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
  
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 3/4 cup pear nectar (or juice from canned pears)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 pound 13 ounce can pears in heavy syrup, sliced

Topping:

• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  
• 1 cup slivered blanched almonds

TO PREPARE:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Sift together flour, sugar, baking, soda, salt, cloves and ginger.  Set aside.
3.  Beat eggs slightly and add pear nectar and vanilla.  Mix in sifted dry ingredients.  Pour batter into buttered 9x13-inch pan.  Press sliced pears evenly into batter, pushing down slightly.
4.  Prepare Topping: Combine brown sugar, butter and almonds until mixture is crumbly.  Sprinkle evenly over pears.
5.  Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.

SERVES:  8

<< Yesterday's Recipe: Rosemary-Crusted Roasted Lamb