Pear-Walnut Upside-Down Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/4 cup egg substitute or 2 large egg whites
• 1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• 2 peeled Bosc or Comice pears, cored and thinly sliced lengthwise

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 7 ingredients (flour through cloves) in a bowl. Combine buttermilk, egg substitute, 1/4 cup butter, and molasses in a bowl. Add to flour mixture, stirring until smooth.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Stir in 1/3 cup brown sugar, and cook over medium heat 1 minute. Remove from heat; sprinkle with walnuts.
4. Place pear slices in the bottom of skillet. Pour batter over pears. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; invert cake onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.