Banana and pear loaf

My partner Justin had been raving for weeks about the banana bread at a cafe close to where he works. It had got to the stage that he and his colleagues would go all the way to this cafe specifically for the banana bread, and not for their more appropriate lunchtime treats. Not one to be outdone in the food stakes, I set about concocting a recipe that would rival even the toughest of competition.

Banana and Pear Loaf

1 cup plain flour

1/2 cup self raising flour

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

125g melted butter, cooled

2 eggs, lightly whisked

3 medium bananas, mashed

1 pear, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (160 fan forced). Grease a loaf tin and line it with non stick baking paper.

Sift flours into a large bowl and stir in sugar and spices. Whisk in eggs and butter. Stir in banana and mix until just combined. Spoon into prepared loaf tin and smooth top. Layer pear slices across top of mixture. Bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into centre of loaf.

This loaf is especially good cut into thick slices, toasted and smeared with butter. Delish!