Fresh Pear Walnut Bread

Pear Bread!? Have you ever thought of this before? I sure haven’t until yesterday. We had a couple fresh pears from a Christmas basket and they were getting way ripe and had to be used! So, my mom looked up “Pear Bread” on Allrecipes and this one came up. Let me tell you it was scrumptious! The pears soften up so nicely and the walnuts add the perfect crunch. The bread is just the right amount sweetness and complements the pears perfectly. You must be warned though, when this bread is cooking your mouth will be drooling. It fills the house with such a sweet aroma and your patience will be tried. When it came out of the oven, I of course didn’t have self control and burnt my tongue. I would recommend waiting and not doing what I did  After it cools off, put some butter on it and you will be in heaven. This was a great recipe and we are definitely adding it to the cook book. Finding new recipes is a great way to start the week!

Fresh Pear Walnut Bread

•  3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups finely chopped pears, about 4 medium pears
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; stir into the egg mixture just until moistened. Toss pears with lemon juice. Stir pears and walnuts into batter (batter will be thick).
2. Spoon into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 2 loaves.

**I like it with butter on top, but I think it would be really good warmed with whip cream too.**