Preheat oven to 375F/190C. Lightly grease an 8in cast iron skillet or similar sized baking dish with some butter.

Put the eggs and sugar in a bowl or mixer and whisk well until well broken up and combined. Add the milk, flour, vanilla, lemon zest and salt and mix/whisk until smooth.

Peel the pears, cut in half and remove the core. Cut into slices and arrange in the bottom of the skillet - you can fan them out slightly as I did or arrange any other way you choose.

Carefully pour the batter into the skillet/baking dish over the pears.

Bake in the oven for approx 35 minutes until lightly browned around the edges and set. Allow to cool a couple minutes before serving. It will probably be puffed up when you take it out the oven and collapse slightly after a minute. Sprinkle with a little confectioners sugar to serve, if desired.