I think the title says it all. This is one Heavenly combo that people find irresistible. Pears are fruits that we always have at home. My kids love them and it is their favourite lunchbox fruit as well. The best part however, is that they’re great at all stages- ripe, almost ripe and green. The ripe ones are a great filler for pies, tarts and smoothies as their sweet flesh yet neutral flavour makes them a perfect accompaniment to berries. So when I am making a strawberry or a blueberry pie, I usually throw in a few ripe pears.

 

We Aussies love our friands. Afternoon tea is incomplete without them. To those who have not tasted a friand, you can call them a nutty cousin of the muffins, though they are way easier to whip up. The two main ingredients are egg whites and nut meal or ground nuts. Any nut would normally work though each one would yield a different taste and texture. My favourites are coffee-walnut, raspberry-almond but chocolate hazelnut takes the top position. These friands are moist, nutty, crunchy as well as chocolatey. The soft pears complement the crunchy texture really well. Have you ever tried a friand" What is your favourite flavour"

Chocolate, Hazelnut and Pear Friands

Makes 6-8 large friands
5 egg whites, lightly whisked

1 cup hazelnut meal

1/4 cup plain flour

2 tbsp cocoa powder

180 g unsalted butter, melted

1 cup icing sugar

3 pears, cored, quartered (I used semi-ripe Packham pears),
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C (160 d...