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.