Brûléed Banana Oatmeal Food

BRûLéED BANANA OATMEAL

Steps:

• COOK THE OATMEAL: Bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add the oats and salt and reduce to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has been absorbed and the oats are tender, 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• PREPARE THE TOPPING: Divide the cooked oats between two bowls. Top with the sliced bananas. Sprinkle the brown sugar over both bowls in an even layer to coat the bananas and oats.
• BRULEE: Fire up your torch (see equipment notes) and sweep it across the surface of the oatmeal, moving it back and forth at a steady pace until all of the sugar has caramelized.

BANANA OATMEAL BREAKFAST BRULéE

Steps:

• Combine milk, rolled oats, salt and 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar in a large saucepan and mix well.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Continue to cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
• Spoon 1 cup of the oatmeal into each of oven-proof bowls spreading evenly.
• Spread 1/4 cup of yogurt over each bowl.
• Arrange sliced banana over yogurt, then sprinkle each remaining brown sugar.
• Arrange the dishes on a baking sheet or in a large baking pan and place under a preheated broiler until the sugar starts to bubble and turn dark, about 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately. Alternately, you may use a kitchen torch to melt the sugar.

BANANA CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a saute pan. Add the bananas, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of white sugar. Stir well to blend the sugar and butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. The bananas should be lightly caramelized. Mash the bananas with the back of a wooden spoon. Add the lemon juice to the mixture, raise the heat to high, add the brandy, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, divide among 6 wide, shallow creme brulee dishes, and let cool. Place the heavy cream in a saucepan. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, and scrape the seeds into the cream with the tip of a knife. Add the scraped-out vanilla bean, and bring the cream just to a boil, then remove from heat. Reserve. Place the egg yolks and 5 tablespoons of white sugar in the top of a double boiler. Whisk them together, then stir over simmering water until the mixture becomes fairly thick (about 15 minutes). Strain the reserved cream into eggs, and stir the mixture over simmering water for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and ladle over the cooled banana puree in the 6 dishes. Place the dishes in a roasting pan, and fill the pan with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes. Remove the dishes from the pan, and chill them for at least 3 hours.
• When you are ready to serve, sprinkle 2 teaspoons of light brown sugar over each dish, distributing evenly. Place the dishes on a bed of cracked ice in a roasting pan, and position the pan under a broiler until the sugar caramelizes. Watch carefully, and move the dishes around so the sugar browns evenly but doesn't char. Remove and serve while the crust is still hot.

BRULEED IRISH OATMEAL

Steps:

• Spread brown sugar out on a baking sheet and set aside overnight; force through a sieve or grind in spice grinder; set aside.
• Bring milk and water to a boil; stir in oatmeal and salt; cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring often; continue to stir occasionally, reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes or until oats are desired firmness and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Spoon oatmeal into serving bowls; sprinkle with dried brown sugar and using a mini torch, melt the sugar until it forms a golden crust.
• Alternatively, pour the oatmeal into a casserole dish and use the broiler to melt the sugar, about 2 minutes.
• Garnish with apple and pear chips and maple syrup.

BANANA BRULéE

Steps:

• To make the bananas brulée, quarter the bananas lengthwise (peel on) and rub into sugar to coat thoroughly.
• Remove peel and place on cooling rack over several layers of foil. (Don't try this on your dining room table.).
• Don your safety goggles and fire up your torch. Hold the torch so that the very tip of the flame barely touches the banana, and move quickly back and forth until the sugar melts, turns brown, and bubbles. As soon as it looks like caramel, move on. You know you've got it down when a solid, glasslike sheet of gold (no graininess) has formed on the banana.