Post Mardi Gras Blues

In the middle of Lent and jonesing for some of that Mardi Gras excess?

Here's a little inspiration.  From Brennan's New Orleans Cookbook. So easy.  So good. (The cookbook I bought was a small paperback, sold at the restaurant.  This link to Amazon is a bigger book.)

I bought this small cookbook the first time I ate at Brennan's, on my first trip to New Orleans.  I am happy to say that after being flattened by Katrina, they are slated to reopen in June.

Bananas Foster

(serves four.  Maybe.)

4 tbsp. sweet butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 tbsp. banana liqueur
4 bananas split lengthwise, then halved
1/4 cup of rum
4 scoops vanilla ice cream

Melt the butter in a pan or skillet.  Add sugar, cinnamon, and banana liqueur and stir to mix.  Heat for a few minutes, then place the bananas in the sauce and cook until slightly browned and soft.  Add the rum and allow to heat well.  Tip the pan so the flame from the burner causes the sauce to light.  Allow the sauce to flame until it dies off, tipping the pan to prolong the flaming.  Scoop the vanilla ice cream into four bowls.  Lift the bananas carefully out of the pan, and place four pieces over each portion of ice cream.  Spoon the hot sauce over the ice cream, dividing it among the portions.

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note:  If you don't have a gas burner, you can light the rum with any flame.  If you don't feel like doing that, just cook on the stovetop a little longer to let the alcohol cook off.  No harm, no foul. R

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In case you can't figure out to do with all that banana liqueur, I'd suggest you make Banana Banshees when you need a break from Bananas Foster.

Mix equal parts banana liqueur, white cream de cacao, and cream.  Shake with ice and strain. 

This is a delicious "dessert drink" in the class that includes grasshoppers and brandy Alexanders.  Warning:  they can sneak up on you.  I won't tell you how I happen to know that.  If you have vanilla ice cream left from your Bananas Foster, you can substitute that for the cream, toss the whole works into a blender and enjoy!

(Warning:  consumption of alcohol can cause you to dance like a retard.)

Comments

[keewee]

I love bananas cooked this way, but I like anything with cream, sugar a booze!
Crepes are also good with this sauce.