(Photo: The Pioneer Woman)
Looking for a great desert that looks impressive, but is surprisingly simple? Bananas Foster may be the perfect way to end a date: Sweet with a little bitterness and the opportunity to light the pan on fire makes this fun to cook and to watch!
Ingredients
- 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 strip lemon zest (1-2 inches long by 1 1/2 inch wide)
- 2 ripe, firm bananas peeled and sliced. Alternatively, halve lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons creme de cacao or banana liqueur
- 1/4 cup rum
- Vanilla ice cream
First, melt the butter in a heavy skilled over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon zest and stir until the sugar melts into a sauce. Make sure to not keep the heat too high so you avoid separating the butter and sugar.
Add bananas and gently spoon the sauce over them until they are glazed and golden on the bottom, then turn. When the bananas are soft, (not mushy or falling apart) remove the skillet from the heat. Add the rum and the banana liqueur. After about five second, or when the alcohol has warmed slightly, wave a lit match (Suggestion: Use grilling match or fireplace match. Also make sure lit burners and exhaust fans are off for safety reasons.) over the pan until the rum ignites. While the concoction is on fire, shake the pan to distribute the flame. When the fire dies remove the lemon zest, divide the sauce and bananas, and serve immediately over ice cream.
This should make about four servings.
