Spiced Pear & Dark Chocolate Chunk Bread & How I Learned To Cook

I learned how to cook very young and I was terrible at it for a very long time. My Mum was a divorced, working Mother, which meant that growing up she was often at work during dinner time. So in the evenings I was left with a kitchen at my disposal, no internet or cook books and a hungry belly. My Mum had taught me the basics, how to cook pasta, the perfect hardboiled egg and bechamel sauce. So, you can imagine my meals weren't particularly appetising. Eventually I graduated from using jars of store bought pasta sauce on top of woefully over-cooked spaghetti to learning what 'al dente' is and making my own pasta sauce with olives, garlic, feta and lemon. I happily lived off that for years.

I moved in with my boyfriend (now husband) when I was 17 years old. He couldn't cook beyond making toast, and with our cooking powers combined our diet consisted heavily of take away and store bought frozen meals. Surprisingly one can only live on tater tots and pizza for so long.

By now I had a much-loved connection to the internet and I began to explore the world of cooking blogs. I was inspired by so many people who seemed to be able to create incredible dishes with the greatest of ease. The food looked ethereal and I was envious, so very envious

I soaked up every bit of information I could, how to pick the best ingredients, how to balance flavours and textures, how to leave behind packet mixes and cook from scratch. I loved every minute.

Sure it was hard and frustrating and I never did quite manage to make that evasive white chocolate mud cake, even after 3 attempts and wasting over a kilo of chocolate. But boy I was overjoyed to be able to finally place something delicious on the table that I had worked hard on, with love and patience.

Now that I have a family of my own cooking has become something we do together. Each meal is an opportunity to learn together, to talk, to savour each other's company and the wonderful things we can create when we work together. My son, Oscar loves to "mix mix", scoop and pour. He's a dedicated taste-tester too. I ask him what he thinks, does it need more sugar? Salt? Is it thick enough? I encourage him to create recipes and different flavour combinations. I often catch him flicking through my cookbooks, scanning the pages for something "mmmlicious!.

Cooking with kids is a messy and sometimes disastrous business, but it makes me giddy with excitement to see my cooking passion instilled in that little man. It's a comfort to know that this is one thing ticked off the list in creating a well-rounded and independent adult, not to mention breakfast in bed is just around the corner. ;)

This recipe is largely thanks to my son, I needed to use some pears and the idea to make it a bread and add chocolate chunks was his hungered request. Oscar and my husband, Keith, kindly tested out the recipe for me with winning results. Kid, husband and food blogger approved! This is a moist (not doughy) bread with a hint of spice, it's best eaten warm for the full 'oozing chocolate' effect. I served it with a side of good quality salted butter and some honey-drizzled fresh figs but it was also delicious the next day, plain and simple with a cup of chai tea.

Spiced Pear & Dark Chocolate Chunk Bread

Recipe by A Rhubarb Rhapsody
Total time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup greek/natural yoghurt
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 500g (1lb 1oz) very ripe pears, peeled cored and mashed (about 3 medium pears)
• 2 tablespoons oil or melted butter
• 90g dark chocolate, cut into chunks

Cooking Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 175°C/ 345°F. Grease load tin and line with grease-proof baking paper, set aside.
2. In a large bowl sift flour, baking powder and baking soda together. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Whisk until combined.
3. In a medium sized mixing bowl mix the mashed pears, yoghurt, eggs, vanilla extract and oil/butter together.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix until just combined (do not over mix). Carefully fold the chocolate chunks into the mixture.
5. Pour the batter into the pre-prepared loaf tin and bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Let the loaf cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack, wait until it's at room temperature before cutting and serving.