Ingredients

• 2 Comice pears, quartered, peeled, cored and chopped into bite-sized cubes
• juice of 2 limes, juiced, zest reserved
• 200 gms self-raising flour
• 150 gms butter, softened
• 150 gms caster sugar
• a pinch salt
• 1 teasp mixed spice
• 1 level tablesp baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 100 gms dark chocolate, broken into cubes
• 150 mls single cream
• 25 gms butter, cubed

Method

1. Quarter, peel and core 2 pears. Chop into bite-sized cubes and add the juice from 2 limes. Drain after 1–2 mins.
2. Place 200g self-raising flour in a bowl and add 150g softened butter, 150g caster sugar, a pinch of salt, 1 tsp mixed spice, 1 level tablespoon baking powder, and the zest of the 2 limes and 2 eggs. Whisk all together with an electric hand mixer.
3. Add the cubed pears and mix in with a spoon. The mixture should be a heavy dropping consistency.
4. Lightly butter and flour a 1 litre pudding basin. Pack the mix into the bowl and cover with buttered foil.
5. Steam for 2–2½ hours. Then relax for 5–10 mins before turning out of the basin.
6. For the chocolate sauce: place 100g dark chocolate broken into cubes, 150ml single cream and 25g cubed butter into a bowl. Melt over a pan of simmering water.

Notes