Chocolate Studded Pear Cake

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350º. Butter and flour a nine-inch spring form pan.
2. Peel pears and cut into small dice.
3. Chop chocolate into small chunks.
4. Brown butter, by cooking over medium heat for about seven minutes. Stir the butter occasionally, remove from heat and set aside to cool when the milk solids have become lightly browned and the butter has a nutty scent.
5. Use a whisk to combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
6. Beat eggs with an electric mixer for about ten minutes at high speed until the eggs are pale yellow and very thick.
7. Add the granulated sugar and continue beating for another minute.
8. Use a spatula to fold in a third of the flour mixture, half of the browned butter, another third of the flour, the remaining butter and flour.
9. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and top it with the pear and chocolate pieces.
10. Bake cake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean and the cake has begun to pull away from the side of the pan.
11. Serve slices of the cake with heavy cream that has been beaten until it is stiff.