Pear and Cardamom spice cake !!!!

Fresh pears and cardamom, a classic combination of flavours, are used together in this moist fruit and nut cake that has crunch from the poppy seeds.  It makes a delicious and mouthwatering tea-time treat.  This cake keeps in an airtight container for up to five days.

Ingredients :

1. Butter,softened- 1/2 cup (115 g)
2. Sugar - 1/2 cup (115 g)
3. 2 eggs, beaten 
4. All purpose flour - 2 cups (225 g)
5. Baking powder - 1 tbsp
6. Milk - 2 tbsp
7. Crushed seeds from 2 cardamoms 
8. Walnuts,chopped - 1/2 cup (50 g)
9. Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp
10. 500 g pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced 
11. Walnut halves
12. Clear honey - 3 tbsp

Method :

1.  Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Grease and line up the baking pan with parchment paper.

2.  Beat the butter and sugar until pale and light.  Beat in the eggs a little at a time.  Sift the flour and baking powder over the butter and sugar mixture.  Fold in with the milk.

3.  Add the cardamom seeds, chopped nuts and poppy seeds.  Reserve one-third of the pear slices and chop the remainder.  Fold in the chopped pears.

4.  Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top, making a small dip in the centre.  Put the walnut halves in the centre and fan the pear slices around them, overlapping each slice and covering the batter.  Bake for 1 1/4 hrs or until the skewer inserted comes out clean.

5.  Cool the cake slightly and brush the top with honey,  Leave to go cold.

Happy Baking !!!