Banana Foster

I first discovered this delicious way of cooking banana as dessert probably over 12 years ago in one of the cooking magazines. I don't really remember anymore the actual recipe, because I have since then memorized the recipe, tweaked it here and there and adapted it to suite my taste. I usually skip the liqueur, but use it when I want to be a little bit more fancy. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp light brown sugar, packed
• 1 ripe banana, peeled, sliced lengthwise and halved
• 1 tbsp banana liqueur, or and 1 tbsp dark rum - optional
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Directions

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar completely dissolves, about 2 minutes. Lay the bananas in the pan and cook on both sides until they become slightly soft and begin to brown, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the banana liqueur and then the rum and cinnamon. Tip the pan slightly and carefully ignite the alcohol with a long kitchen match or kitchen lighter to flambe. Put the pan back on the heat and shake it back and forth basting the bananas, until the flame dies out.

Divide the ice cream among dessert bowls. Gently lift the bananas from the pan and place pieces on the ice cream. Spoon the sauce over the ice cream and serve immediately.

Serve 1