BROWN SUGAR PEAR POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Butter a 10-inch fluted tube pan.
• Coat lightly with flour, shaking out excess; set pan aside.
• In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In a very large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
• Add brown sugar and vanilla; beat on high speed until mixture is smooth and light, about 3 minutes.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until combined.
• Alternately add milk and the 1/4 cup brandy to flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition and stopping occasionally to scrape the bowl.
• Fold in pears and orange peel.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 1 hour 10 minutes or until golden brown and a long wooden skewer inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• For glaze, combine granulated sugar and the 1/3 cup brandy in a small saucepan.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture just boils and sugar is dissolved.
• Remove cake from pan and place on wire rack.
• Place a piece of waxed paper under the wire rack.
• With a pastry brush, brush the warm glaze over the entire surface of the cake.
• Cool cake completely.
• Serve with Pear Sauce.
• To make Pear Sauce: In a medium saucepan combine pears, lemon juice, pear nectar, sugar, and vitamin C tablet.
• Bring to boiling over medium heat; reduce heat.
• Simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until pears are soft.
• If mixture seems dry and in danger of scorching, add a bit more nectar to pan.
• Remove from heat.
• Cool slightly.
• Puree mixture in a food processor or blender; strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Taste sauce and adjust sugar if necessary.
• Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 72 hours.
• Makes about 2 cups.
• Make-Ahead Tip: Store cooled cake tightly wrapped at room temperature up to 2 days.