Banana Cream Salted Caramel Squares Food

BANANA CREAM SALTED CARAMEL SQUARES

Steps:

• Place all cereal in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Butter a 13x9x2" pan and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and add the marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows are completely melted and smooth. Add the pudding mix and stir until completely blended.
• Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup of the caramel and vanilla - stir until completely incorporated.
• Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal and fold together until the cereal is completely coated. Pour the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Spread out and press firmly into corners. Let cool. Drizzle remaining caramel over cereal. Cut into squares.
• Best when served same day. Will keep up to two days in airtight container.

SALTED CARAMEL BANANA TATINS WITH CRèME FRAîCHE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• To make the ice cream, split the vanilla pod in half lengthways and scrape out the seeds. Put the pod and seeds in a saucepan with the cream and milk, and bring slowly to the boil. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until pale. Pour the hot cream mixture over the egg and sugar, whisking continuously. Pour back into the pan, set over a gentle heat and stir with a wooden spoon. Heat gently until the custard mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon, then remove from the heat.
• Pour the crème fraîche into a bowl and whisk to loosen. Slowly pour in the hot custard mixture, whisking as you go. Pour the mixture into an ice-cream machine and churn until softly frozen. Transfer to a container, then freeze for 2 hrs to firm.
• To make the Tatins, roll out the pastry on a floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using the banana as a guide, cut out 2 pastry lids big enough to fit over the banana, leaving a 1cm border around the edge. Place the pastry on a baking tray and put in the fridge.
• Set an ovenproof, heavy-bottomed frying pan over a medium heat. Add the sugar, butter and cream, and cook for 5 mins until the sugar has melted and the caramel is bubbling. Add ½ tsp sea salt flakes. Slice the banana in half lengthways and place the 2 halves, cut-side down, into the caramel.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Place a pastry lid on top of each banana half, tucking each in tightly around the edges. This can be done 1 hr ahead. Transfer the pan to the oven and cook for 20 mins until the pastry is risen and golden. Quickly and carefully turn out the Tatins, sprinkle with a few flakes of sea salt and serve with scoops of crème fraîche ice cream.

WAFFLES WITH BANANA & SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the sugar, golden syrup and butter in a saucepan and heat gently, stirring occasionally, until everything has melted together. When the mixture starts to bubble, stir in the double cream and cook for 2 mins. Stir in 1/2 tsp salt, then take off the heat and allow to cool slightly in the pan.
• Heat the waffle maker (if you don't have one, you can use a griddle pan instead - see tip). Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. In a separate large bowl, mix together the flour, bicarbonate, caster sugar and a pinch of salt. Make a well in the centre and add the egg yolks and melted butter. Start mixing with a balloon whisk; keep whisking as you slowly add the milk until you get a smooth, thick batter. Carefully fold in the egg whites with a metal spoon. Use a ladle to pour the batter into your waffle maker and cook for 5 mins or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Repeat until all the batter has been used up - keep cooked waffles warm in a low oven until serving.
• Just before serving, heat the remaining butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and fry the banana pieces until golden. Divide the waffles between 4 plates, top with the fried bananas, drizzle with salted caramel and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if you like.