Pear Walnut Bread and Blogging Blindly

I’m no techie. I use technology, but I don’t get technology.
Even blogging technology.

Especially blogging technology.

I do get baking.

Behold Exhibit A. Pear Walnut Bread. Chomp.

But the rest? I don’t know a host from a permalink, and don’t ask me about SEO or plugins.
I could not easily explain these to anybody.

Still, I continue on, blogging blindly, hoping for the best.

What can I say, except that I am an optimist.
And also, nobody can be good at everything.

I’ll stick to being good at math, and telling stories, and sharing recipes that I think you all will like. And eating and tasting and leveraging bacon when necessary to get buy-in from my family.

I will stop worrying so much about why, in the past week, I’ve lost my “subscribe to JWJ by email” button and my ability to view any blog statistics. I’ll figure it out eventually, or get help.

While I’m working on all that, I’ve got a job for you.

Make this amazing pear walnut bread. It’s moist and full of cinnamon and clove and sweet pears, and is sneakily good for you with whole wheat flour, applesauce in place of some of the oil, and wholesome goodness from nuts and fruit.

It’s inspired by my Uncle Rich’s apple bread, which he gifts us every year at Christmas. The kids got a hankering for it, so I called him up, got the recipe, then applied my usual twists.

I’m no techie, but I do alright in the kitchen 🙂

Pear Walnut Bread
Adapted from Uncle Rich’s apple bread recipe
Makes 1 loaf

Prep time: 20 minutes      Bake time: 55-65 minutes

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground clove
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 ripe pears, peeled and sliced (about 3 cups)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
cinnamon/sugar (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a loaf pan with spray oil.

In a small bowl, add the flours, salt, cinnamon, clove, and baking soda. Whisk together until well combined, and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a fork, then add the oil, applesauce, sugar, and vanilla, and stir until well combined. Add the flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Fold in the pears and walnuts. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan. Place in the oven on a rack positioned in the center.

Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If desired, sprinkle top with cinnamon/sugar about half-way through cooking time. Cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before inverting the pan and removing the bread to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

ENJOY!