chocolate cake with port glazed pear

I rarely eat puddings and cakes, and even more seldom do I cook them. I've always been more of a savoury foods person myself. During these last few days however, there was someone in my household who felt pretty much sorry for himself, recovering, as he was, from a minor op. Hence, a few extra cuddles were due. Here is one of the concessions I produced myself in...

Pie with pork, pears and prunes.

There's a first time for everything but what to choose as the very first post that launches this blog? 

To hit the nail on the head, I went for the dish that I most recently cooked for some of my loyal "customers". 

It was a great success and also has the advantage of well representing my 'Anglo-Monferrine' roots (from the Monferrato hills, in Piedmont, where I now live).