Dried Pear- Hazelnut Loaf

 Prep /Total time : 2 hours  and 45 minutes ... Serves  16

2-1/4 .............cups all-purpose flour

1 ....................cup granulated sugar

2 ....................teaspoons baking powder

1/2 .................teaspoon salt 

1 ....................cup buttermilk 

6 ....................tablespoons  butter , melted 

1 ...................teaspoon vanilla 

1 ..................teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 ..................teaspoon gingerroot 

2 ..................eggs

1/2 ..............cup chopped hazelnuts  (filberts) toasted  skins  removed

3/4 ..............cup chopped dried pears 

1/2 ..............cup packed brown sugar

1/4 ..............cup cold butter

2/3 ..............cup all-purpose flour

1/2 ..............cup powder sugar

2 .................teaspoons milk

1 . Heat oven  to 375*F . Spray bottom and sides  of 9x5-inch loaf pan  with cooking spray.

2 . In large bowl  , mix  2-1/2 cups  flour  , the granulated sugar  , baking powder     and salt  in medium bowl  , beat buttermilk  , 6 tablespoons  butter , the vanilla , lemon peel , gingerroot  and eggs  with wire whisk  until well blended .Stir  into flour mixture  until blended  . Stir in pears  and hazelnuts  . Spread batter into pan.

3. In medium  bowl , mix brown sugar  and 1/4 cup butter  until blended  . Stir  in  2/3 cup  flour  , pinch with fingers  until clumps  form . Sprinkle  topping over batter.

4 . Bake 1 hour  or until toothpick inserted  in  center  comes out clean  , cover with foil  during last 25 minutes  ; remove  from pan  to cooling rack . Cool completely  , about  2 hours . In small  bowl , mix  powder sugar  and milk until thin enough  to drizzle . Drizzle over loaf and  . Let stand  10 minutes before  serving ......Heart healthy