Banana Foster, You Light Up My Life....

Banana foster is one of my very favorite desserts and I have only had it a handful of times.  John bought rum to make it for me about four years ago and then we kind of forgot about it.  Last Friday he reignited the flame for this fruit flambé and I've been craving it ever since.   

Banana Foster

(Serves 4)

While the bananas cook, scoop the ice cream into individual bowls so that the desserts are ready to serve once the sauce has been flambeed.  

1/2 cup of packed dark brown sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 a stick)

1 cinnamon stick

1 strip of lemon zest (2-inch)

1/4 cup of dark rum

2 large, firm, ripe bananas, peeled, halved lengthwise, and then halved crosswise

1 pint of vanilla ice cream

1.  Combine the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon stick, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon of the rum in a heavy-bottomed 12-inch skillet.  Heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is thick, about 2 minutes.

2.  Reduce the heat to medium and add the bananas, spooning some sauce over each piece.  Cook until the bananas are glossy and golden on both sides, about 3 minutes.  

3.  Off the heat, add the remaining 3 tablespoons of rum and wait until the rum has warmed slightly, about 5 seconds.  Wave a lit match over the pan until the rum ignites.  Return the skillet to the heat, shaking the pan to distribute the flame over the entire pan.  When the flame subsides (this will take 15 to 30 seconds), divide and pour over ice cream.