Banana Heaven Food

BANANAS FOSTER BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• For the bread and syrup: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Toast the bread cubes on a baking sheet until they start to dry and harden, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Raise the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter.
• Meanwhile, to make the syrup, add the butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, rum, vanilla and cinnamon to a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the butter is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the mixture is thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
• For the custard: Whisk together the heavy cream, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, rum, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, whole eggs and yolks in a large bowl. Add the bread, pecans and half of the syrup and stir until completely coated (reserve the other half of the syrup for later). Cover and let soak for about 30 minutes, pushing the bread down occasionally so that all the cubes are soaked.
• Thinly slice 4 of the bananas and fold into the bread mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake until the custard is set and the top is golden brown, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
• Thinly slice the remaining banana and scatter on top of the bread. Drizzle with the reserved syrup. Serve warm, at room temperature or cold with ice cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE BANANA HEAVEN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour 2 (9-in.) round cake pans.
• Line bottoms of pans with wax paper.
• Stir cake mix and cocoa in large bowl.
• Add eggs, prepared coffee, water and bananas; beat with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl frequently.
• Beat on medium speed 2 min; pour evenly into prepared pans.
• Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 min or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
• Cool 10 min; remove from pans.
• Immediately remove wax paper.
• Cool cake layers completely on wire racks.
• Dissolve 1 tsp instant coffee in warm milk.
• Beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.
• Add milk mixture; beat 2 min, then blend in melted chocolate.
• Add powdered sugar; beat until smooth and fluffy.
• Use to fill and frost cooled cake layers.
• Immediately press pecans into frosting on side of cake.
• Garnish top with chocolate curls.
• To Make Chocolate Curls: Unwrap and heat a square of Semi-Sweet Chocolate for a few seconds in the microwave.
• Holding the square firmly in your hand, draw a vegetable peeler over the flat bottom.

BLUE HEAVEN BANANA PANCAKES

Steps:

• Beat egg until fluffy. Add milk and oil/melted butter. Add vanilla.
• In another bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
• Take bananas out of skin and cut into very small pieces (1/2"). They do not have to be perfect, and do not worry about then getting a bit "mashed".
• Add dry ingredients gradually to egg mixture.
• Add cut bananas (and toasted nuts, optional).
• In a non-stick 8-10" skillet, heat pan to medium. Pan is ready when water dances on surface.
• Pour batter in pan using ladle or pitcher, forming a pancake approx 4-5" wide.
• When the edges start looking a little "matte" and the pancake is bubbly, flip. When you see steam start "wisping" from the edges of the pancake, it is done.
• Top with syrup (mix ingredients above and heat in microwave for 30-45 seconds), whipped cream, or more bananas and nuts.