Topping: 1 lb. butter 1 1⁄2 lbs. brown sugar 8 oz. pecans, chopped, (1 2⁄3 cups) optional 1 #10 can Sliced Pacific Northwest Canned Pears, drained Cake: 2 lbs. all-purpose baking mix, such as Bisquick (6 1⁄2 cups) 3 oz. butter, softened 1 lb. sugar (2 cups) 1 1⁄2 cups milk 4 eggs 4 tsps. vanilla extract
For the topping: Melt butter; add brown sugar. Cook mixture until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
Pour into the bottom of a buttered 12" x 20" pan; sprinkle with pecans.
Tightly arrange pear slices, rounded side down over bottom of pan; reserve.
To make the cake: Beat together all-purpose baking mix with remaining ingredients; pour into prepared pan.
Bake at 350ºF until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
Remove from oven; immediately turn pan over a buttered sheet pan. Leave the baking pan covering the cake for about 5 minutes to allow the topping to coat the cake. Remove pan; cool thoroughly.
Yield: 48 servings (2"x 2 1⁄2 " ea.)