Crunchy Caramelized Banana Strips The E Z Way Recipes

CARAMELIZED BANANAS WITH PECAN-COCONUT CRUNCH

Steps:

• Make the crunchy topping: In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium until melted and foamy, about 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon honey and the salt; using a spatula, stir to combine. Add the pecans, pumpkin seeds, oats and coconut and stir to coat. Toast, stirring frequently, until the mixture is golden brown, about 8 minutes, lowering the heat as necessary to keep the mixture from burning. Stir in the sesame seeds and remove from heat. Move to a shallow bowl and set aside to cool. (You should have about 1 1/2 cups.)
• Prepare the bananas: Set the oven to broil. Wipe out the skillet and add the brown sugar, heavy cream, nutmeg, pepper, remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon honey. Stir ingredients and bring to a simmer over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and place the bananas in the pan, cut-side up. Spoon some of the sauce over the top to coat the slices. Move the pan to the oven and broil until the caramel sauce is hot and bubbly and the bananas are tender, deep golden and slightly charred in spots, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes.
• Spoon a large helping of the ice cream, whipped cream or crème fraîche over the warm bananas, then scatter the pecan-coconut crunch over the top. Divide among individual plates or eat directly from the skillet.

EASY CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Slice bananas into thick coins or lengthwise strips, depending on your preference.
• Pour sugar onto a plate. Roll bananas in sugar, until completely coated.
• Spray a medium size nonstick pan, and heat over medium high heat. Add bananas and sugar.
• Cook bananas until light to golden brown underneath, about 4-5 minutes (you can lift with a spatula or fork to peek). Be careful not to overcook or burn them (if you smell them browning, or see color in the pan, flip them right away). Keep in mind these times will vary, depending on your stove.
• Gently flip bananas over to brown other side, turning heat down to medium. The second side will brown in about one minute.
• Transfer to a plate that has been coated with cooking spray (otherwise they may stick - they are ooey gooey and sticky!) and serve. Alternately, slide them right onto your ice cream or breakfast food.
• Soak pan in hot water to facilitate cleaning.

FRIED CARAMELIZED BANANAS WITH ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Make the Caramel
• Place a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the brown sugar and butter. Allow both to melt and mix well using a heatproof silicone spatula.
• Fry the Bananas
• When the caramel is hot and bubbly, add the bananas, cut side down, along with the pecans. Allow the bananas to cook for about 3 minutes before turning them over. The cut side should have a deep golden brown color and a slightly crispy texture. (Depending on the ripeness of the banana, they may break. Don't worry about this; they will still be delicious.)
• Cook for another 2 minutes, using a spoon to drizzle the caramel sauce over the bananas to keep infusing them with caramel flavor.
• Serve
• Place the bananas on a serving dish or platter, top with scoops of ice cream, and drizzle the caramel sauce and nuts all over it.
• COOKING NOTES
• ADVANCE PREPARATION
• The bananas are best served just after they are made. They will lose their crispy caramelized texture as they sit but will still retain their flavor so long as they are not refrigerated.
• If you must make them in advance, the bananas can be held in a warm oven for a few hours.

CROCK POT HAM & CAULIFLOWER CHOWDER

Steps:

• Steam trimmed whole head of cauliflower with stalk down for about 6 minutes.
• Remove and cool to handle.
• Break off florets and finely dice stalk.
• In cast iron skillet, sauté onion and celery in butter or oil over Medium-High heat until softened.
• Add diced ham and saute 1 minutes.
• Place all ingredients EXCEPT Half and Half and cheddar cheese in crock pot.
• Stir to blend.
• Cook on LOW for 6 hours; extract 2 cups of chowder and add 3 tablespoons potato flakes and puree in blender until smooth; return to crock pot.
• Add Half and Half; and cook 30 mins.to 1 hour.
• Sprinkle individual servings with cheddar cheese, if desired.