Pear chocolate french toast

 This is another recipe I learnt from Hannah Miles's cookbook. One pear can be used as the core for 4 breads. If you cook for 2 persons, you can use half of the pear for the core and the other half for decoration on top, or you can just reserve that half for another day.

Step 1: Peal and boil a pear in 20-30 minutes until it is soft. You can divide the pear into 4 pieces with core out so that it will be soft faster.

Step 2: Bring the soft pear from hot water to a bowl of ice water. Let it cool for a few minutes.

Step 3: Chop the pear into small cubes. Then mix them with a handful of chocolate chips. You may add as much as chocolate as you wish, but I would say 50/50. There could be some pear cubes not used, which you will sear later to add some decoration to the french toast.

Step 4: Prepare the pan. Put it onto your stove. I usually set 2/3 heat for an electric stove.

Step 5: While the pan is getting hot, prepare the bread. We have 2 thick slices of bread or sandwiches that can be pocketed. Remove the outer of the bread, then use a sharp small knife to cut a pocket on one side of the bread. Then, put half of the mixture of pear and chocolate into the pocket, and close it. Repeat with the other bread.

Step 6: Break one egg into a deep plate, mix with 40ml of fresh cream (or milk if you're short of cream), and 1 tablespoon of sugar (brown). 

Step 7: Drop a little butter to the hot pan and tilt the pan so that butter spread out evenly. Dip the bread into the egg milk on both sides, then rapidly put it to the hot pan. Sear both sides of the bread until they become golden brown. Pour the bread onto a plate and repeat the step with the other bread.

Step 8: Sear the remaining pear cubes with butter and sugar, then pour them onto the breads. Dust with powder sugar. Finish.