Pear Coffee Cake

2 pears
1 1/2 cups flour
3 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. butter

Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Cut in the shortening until pieces are size of pea. Beat egg into buttermilk and add to dry ingredients. Mix only until all moisture is absorbed. Dough will be fairly stiff. Press lightly into an 8-inch pan. Peel and core pears and slice into 1/2 inch slices. Cover top of coffee cake with pear slices. Mix brown sugar cinnamon and butter and sprinkle over pears. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.