Up-side Down Pear Cake

Here's a cake that came out so good I had to bake it twice in a row. My husband brought home a huge box of pears and I was trying to think of ways to use them before going bad. So I decided to bake something with pears, and for some reason settled on an up-side down cake. Turns out the pears were perfect for it, and the cake was so easy to make, and so delicious, that I am sure to make it again at some point. Here's the recipe:

• 1 and 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3 pears, peeled, halted and seeds removed

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter a 9 inch springform cake pan.

Peel pears, cut in half and remove seeds.

In the prepared pan, combine 3 tablespoon butter (cut up and dropped on the bottom of the pan), and the brown sugar. Place the pan in the oven until the butter melts and the brown sugar caramelizes a little. Then take out and set aside.

Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and milk, alternating both, until combined. No need to mix all that much.

Arrange the pears in the pan, with the flat side down, narrow side pointing to the center. Pour the cake batter on top.

Bake for 50 mins to an hour, allow to cool 15 mins before serving.

Enjoy.