Pear, walnut and banana loaf

Sunday afternoon just because baking is one of my guilty pleasures, but one that I don't indulge in nearly enough. It is most often brought about by whatever is sitting in my pantry or fridge and then googling the ingredients to see what they could make. This week, I looked for what to do with half a tin of pears and yet more overripe bananas. I came across Healthy Food Guide's recipe for pear and walnut loaf from a couple of years ago and modified it to suit what I have available, secretly chuffed that I found something really easy to make (it doesn't require a mixer) that I can bake without guilt because it's actually healthy. Right? ;-)

Pear, walnut and banana loaf

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup self-raising flour
• 3/4 cup wholemeal flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 medium bananas, mashed
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 pear, peeled and chopped
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup fine chopped walnuts or pecans

Method

1. Preheat oven to 190°C. Line a 21 cm x 8 cm loaf tin with baking paper.
2. Combine flours, baking powder and sugar in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bananas, egg, oil and milk. Fold into flour mixture until combined then gently fold in pear.
3. Spoon into prepared tin. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts and sprinkle over mixture.
4. Bake for 1 hour or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Stand for 5 minutes in tin before turning out on a wire rack to cool.

Pear, walnut and cinnamon loaf