Pear and Almond Traybake

Most of my latest posts have been recipes. I borrow cookery books from the library in the school holidays, cook up a storm in the kitchen and then return them during term time. This one comes from The Great British Bake Off Winter Kitchen by Lizzie Kamenetzky. I've also started a sourdough starter as I make bread every couple of days so I thought I'd give it another try. There was a failed attempt a few years ago, but this one is bubbling away happily in a sunny windowsill in the kitchen.

I've made one of these tray bakes to take down to Christopher and Toby this weekend.

Ingredients

175g unsalted butter

190g caster sugar

3 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

140ml milk

180g self raising flour

175g ground almonds

Finely grated zest of one lemon

A squeeze of lemon juice

2 large, ripe but firm pears, peeled, cored and cut into bite-sized chunks

50g flaked almonds

Heat the oven to 180 C or gas mark 4. Grease and line a 30 x 23cm traybake tin.

Beat the butter and sugar together really thoroughly until it is light and fluffy.

Gradually add the eggs, followed by the vanilla extract, milk and beat to incorporate them.

Fold in the flour and ground almonds before adding lemon zest and juice and the chunks of pear.

Tip the mixture into the tin and sprinkle flaked almonds over the surface.

Bake the cake in the centre of the oven for 45 minutes. It should be golden and risen. Do the skewer test.

Leave to cool for 20 minutes and serve warm as a pudding with crème fraîche or serve as a cake at teatime.
Nom.