Pear Chocolate Sundae Food

CHOCOLATE PEAR PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grease an 8 1/2-inch square ovenproof dish with butter.
• Drain the pears and arrange them on the base of the prepared dish. Put all the remaining ingredients in a processor and blitz until you have a batter with a soft dropping consistency.
• Spread the brown batter over the pears, and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 or 10 minutes and then cut into slabs - I cut 2 down and 2 across to make nine slices - and serve with chocolate sauce.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE SUNDAES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan combine the chocolate, water, and 1/4 cup sugar. Melt chocolate over low heat, stirring slowly and constantly. Stir in pear liqueur or nectar. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Peel the pears, if desired; cut into quarters.* In a large skillet melt butter. Add pear quarters; cook over medium heat about 12 minutes or until browned and tender, turning once. Add the 2 tablespoons sugar stirring gently until sugar is dissolved and pears are glazed.
• To assemble: Place scoops of ice cream in bottom of 8 individual bowls. Spoon two pear pieces and some sauce around ice cream in each bowl. Top with chocolate sauce. Makes 8 servings.
• *Note: If using large pears, use only 2 pears and cut into fourths.

CHOCOLATE SUNDAES WITH PEAR & CHRISTMAS PUD

Steps:

• First, make some shavings from the bar of chocolate by dragging a large knife over the surface. You only need a little - enough to top the sundaes. Set the shavings aside and break the remaining chocolate into a saucepan. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and heat gently, stirring, until the chocolate melts and you have a smooth glossy sauce.
• Crumble the cake or pudding into sundae glasses and drizzle over the alcohol or pear juice. Top with the pear quarters and ice cream. Drizzle over the chocolate sauce and top with the hazelnuts and chocolate shavings.

PEARS WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel the pears, leaving the stalks intact, then take the core out from the bottom of each by using a small sharp knife or a melon baller. Flatten the bottom by slicing off a little bit so that it will sit upright when served. Put the pears into a saucepan with the zests, vanilla pod, sugar, cinnamon, white wine and 600ml water, then bring to the boil. Lower the heat and poach for about 20-25 mins until they are cooked all the way through, but are not so soft that they will fall apart. Leave to cool in the liquid. Can be made and chilled a day ahead.
• When cool, take the pears out, strain out the cinnamon, zest and vanilla pod (keep the pod, allow it to dry, then pop it into a jar of sugar to make vanilla sugar), then pour the syrup back in the pan. Boil until reduced by half to a thin syrup.
• Meanwhile, to make the sauce, melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Warm the cream, milk and butter in a heavy based pan. Stir this into the melted chocolate, set aside and keep warm. Can be made and chilled a day ahead. If the sauce cools and thickens too much, warm it again gently over a pan of simmering water or for 30 secs in a microwave. Serve the pears with plenty of syrup, chocolate sauce and good-quality vanilla ice cream.

SQUIDGY CHOCOLATE PEAR PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Lightly grease a roughly 20 x 30cm shallow ovenproof dish. Put the butter in a large saucepan and place over a low heat until just melted. Remove the butter from the heat and stir in the sugar until well combined.
• Whisk the eggs together in a large bowl. Gradually add the eggs to the butter and sugar, beating well with a wooden spoon in between each addition. Sift the flour and cocoa powder on top of the egg mixture, then beat hard with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.
• Pour into the prepared tin or dish and nestle the pears into the chocolate batter. Put the chocolate on a board and cut into chunky pieces roughly 1.5cm with a large knife. Scatter the chocolate pieces over the batter and sprinkle with almonds, if you like. Can be frozen at this stage.
• Bake in the centre of the oven for 30 mins or until the mixture is crusty on the surface and lightly cooked inside. Do not allow to overcook, as the cake will become spongy rather than gooey in the centre. Serve warm with cream or ice cream

CHOCOLATE - PEAR SUNDAES

Steps:

• Drain pears, reserving syrup.
• In small bowl combine fude topping, honey, and orange peel.
• Add 1 to 2 teaspoons reserved pear syrup to thin.
• Just before serving, spoon topping over pear halves in dessert dishes.