Pear Bread

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup apple sauce (or pear sauce -- all you have to do is mash some pears in their juice to make a half cup)

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups flour

lemon zest from one medium lemon

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ginger

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups of chopped pears (if fresh, then peel the pears)

1 cup chopped pecans (or you can use walnuts if you prefer -- I use whatever I have on hand)

How To Make The Bread

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

In one bowl, beat your wet ingredients: the oil, apple (or pear) sauce, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract.

In another bowl, mix together the flour, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Add your chopped pears and chopped nuts. Mix carefully but thoroughly.

Spray TWO 8" X 4" loaf pans with cooking oil spray, then divide the batter between the two pans.

Sprinkle the tops with sugar. Don't be shy! I use about 2 or 3 tbsp. for the tops of each loaf.

Place the pans into the preheated oven, and bake for an hour or so. I usually start checking mine at the one hour mark by inserting a toothpick near the center. If the toothpick comes out clean I know my loaves are done. Sometimes the loaves will take upwards of 70 minutes.

Let them cool for about 10 minutes on the counter, then carefully remove them from the pans and let them come to room temperature.

Final Steps

I always wrap one loaf in several pieces of plastic wrap, then in a covering of foil, and put into the freezer. (Make sure the loaf is fully at room temperature before you put it into the freezer.) It's great to have when guests are coming over, or for breakfast for guests, or anytime you'd like something special but aren't in the mood to bake.

I slice the other loaf and eat it with butter, or toast a slice to eat with my coffee in the morning.

I also love to wrap slices in plastic wrap and put them in lunches -- they're so delicious after a sandwich, and this pear bread keeps really well.