bananas fosterI like bananas as much as the next person. They're a handy portable snack, lots of potassium, sweet and mellow. But I had a Bananas Foster sundae the other night and remembered the real magic of bananas: Sizzle them in butter and that sugar turns into rich, caramel, gooey gold! Let's have some more of that, please.

And here's Paula Deen's Bananas Foster recipe -- just in time for the weekend. This is a fabulous and easy Friday-night dessert idea. Or top your pancakes or waffles with these bananas for a decadent breakfast.

Bananas Foster, by Paula Deen via Food Network

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 4 bananas peeled, halved, and cut lengthwise
  • 1/4 cup dark rum
  • Ice cream, optional
  • Pound cake, optional
    •  

Directions

In a large skillet, melt butter. Using a wooden spoon, add brown sugar and stir together. Add the bananas and cook until caramelized on both sides, over medium-high heat. Move pan off heat, add the rum, and return to the stove to catch a flame from the gas stove or a long lighter. Stand back when ignited and flambe the bananas. Be careful, a flame will shoot up above the pan. Let flame die down and the alcohol cook out. Serve bananas over vanilla ice cream and/or a slice of pound cake.

 

Image via kimberlykv/Flickr