Chocolate And Pear Bread Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp water
2 None pears, peeled, cored, sliced
1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
6 None slices thick, stale white bread, torn into pieces
4 large eggs
2 tbsp sugar
5 1/4 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
None None Ice-cream or heavy cream, to serve

Preparation

Preheat oven to moderately slow, 325\u00b0F. Lightly grease a deep 6-cup ovenproof dish.
In a medium skillet, combine brown sugar and water. Heat on low 1-2 minutes, stirring, until sugar dissolves.
Add pear slices. Simmer, covered, 3-5 minutes until just tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, bring milk, cream and vanilla bean paste to a boil on low. Remove from heat. Set aside, covered, 5 minutes.
Layer bread and pear in prepared dish. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. Gradually whisk in warm cream mixture.
Pour egg mixture carefully over bread and pear. Sprinkle with chocolate. Place dish in a large roasting pan and add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the dish.
Bake 50-55 minutes until just set. Serve pudding with ice-cream or cream, if desired.