Monday, April 30, 2012

The Easiest Chocolate and Pear Pudding

Before I give you the recipe for this deliciously easy chocolate pudding - some food news! As most of you know, I've been working in the food realm for a few years now and, as of a couple weeks ago, started a new position as a Food Specialist for Canadian Living. Canadians will know the magazine I'm sure, and for all my non-Canadian readers - I hope you take a few minutes to take a look at the magazine's website.

I will be sharing some of my daily experiences with you on this blog and talking about life in a professional Test Kitchen.I`m excited for this new chapter - nothing makes me happier than spending my work hours creating recipes, writing about food and talking about today's relevant food-related issues. I hope you will be joining me on this culinary journey!


For the time being, I wanted to share a recipe inspired by Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Pudding. I made a few changes to this basic pudding  and served it warm with a side of orange/mango sorbet. This was the easiest chocolate dessert and the perfect recipe to have on hand when you have a late night chocolate craving and not much in your fridge. It starts with plump canned pears - which help keep the pudding really moist. Although I usually prefer using fresh fruit, canned fruit really work here. They are plump and soft, and the extra juice they release gives the pudding a satisfying saucy consistency  This sure hits the spot!

The Easiest Chocolate and Pear Pudding

2 x 415g cans pear halves in juice (not syrup)
125g plain flour
25g cocoa powder
85g caster sugar
2 tbsp good quality dark chocolate, chopped
150g soft butter, plus extra for greasing
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup sliced almonds

 Preheat the oven to 375F and grease a 22cm square ovenproof dish with butter. Drain the pears and arrange them on the base of the dish.

Put all the remaining ingredients - except the dark chocolate and almonds - in a mixer and combine until all the ingredients just come together

Scatter the chocolate pieces on top of the pear and top with the the brown. Spread using a silicone spoon and top with almonds. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Serve warm.





10 comments:

Torviewtoronto said...

wonderful pudding looks fabulous

Chocolate Shavings said...

Torviewtoronto: Thank you!

turmericnspice said...

congratulations !! that is indeed a dream come true, looking fwd to reading from u !!

love the pudding, like u i prefer fresh fruits, might have to go and shop for some canned :)) thxs for sharing

Spencer said...

Looks like an amazing pudding. I am sure it tastes great.

Poornima Nair said...

How fun to work in a test kitchen..Congrats! The pudding looks delicious!

Katie said...

Wow how exciting is your new job! That's exactly what I've been trying to get into. The jobs are like gold dust though!

The choc and pear pudding sounds delicious too

Zsofi Anna said...

So exciting! I grew up reading Canadian Living and thumbing through the wise words of Elizabeth Baird and the like. That is going to be an awesome job.

mr. pineapple man said...

This looks heavenly!

Chocolate Shavings said...

Zsofi Anna: I'm glad you enjoy it!

Sangeetha Nambi said...

Pudding looks perfect and scrumptious...

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