Favourite dessert

Everyone has their favourite standby dessert. One that you know can always be relied on to be a success and which is quick and easy to make. This is mine:

Pear & Almond Flan

1 tbs brown sugar
150g butter
150g caster sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
150g almond meal
2 tbsp self-raising flour
2 tbsp blanched (or flaked) almonds
3 or 4 pears, skin on

Line a circular flan or cake tin 23cm in diameter with non-stick baking paper. Sprinkle soft brown sugar over the baking paper.

In a bowl, cream together butter and caster sugar to create a smooth creamy mixture, making sure all the sugar is dissolved.

Lightly beat the eggs and add them to the creamed mixture. Add the almond meal and flour and mix well.

Cut the pears vertically, leaving the skin on and the stalk. (I don't always leave the stalk on.) Place the pieces decoratively in the flan dish or cake tin, flat sides down. Fill the gaps with the blanched almonds.

Pour the cake mixture over the pears and almonds and press down.

Bake in preheated oven at 190c for 45 minutes or until the filling feels firm at the centre. Allow to cool.
Serve with cream or ice-cream.

This is a recipe by Ian Parmenter who used to host the 'Consuming Passions' program on ABC TV years ago.

I have made and eaten it so many times I tend to take it for granted, but whenever I serve it to someone for the first time they always rave about it which reminds me just how delicious it is.