Chocolate Banana Napoleon Food

CHOCOLATE-BANANA WAFFLE NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Heat a Belgian-style waffle iron. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs until smooth. The batter will be thick.
• Spray waffle iron with cooking spray. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into each section of the waffle grid; spread batter almost to the edges. Close lid; bake 3 minutes, until no steam emerges from waffle iron.
• Transfer cooked waffles to a baking sheet; place in an oven set to low heat, about 200 degrees, while using the remaining batter.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons brown-sugar butter. Add bananas, and saute until softened and golden brown, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Add nuts. Remove skillet from heat, carefully add Grand Marnier, and ignite. Allow alcohol to burn off. Continue to saute until bananas and nuts are well coated.
• Split waffles in half. Place a half on each of two plates. Spoon one-quarter of the banana mixture over each waffle half. Top with remaining waffle halves. Spoon another one-quarter of the banana mixture over waffles. Dust each with confectioners' sugar and then drizzle with chocolate.

BANANA NAPOLEON WITH RUM CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the puff pastry on parchment lined baking sheets, 1/2-inch apart. Place parchment on top of the dough and then on a wire rack or baking sheet on top. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. (If you are using a baking sheet on top, you will have to remove the baking sheet to see if the puff is done.) Cool to room temperature. Slice each piece of puff pastry in 1/2 horizontally along the 4-inch side.
• Whisk the cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and rum in a large bowl until soft peaks form.
• Slice the bananas 1/2-inch thick on a bias. Place them in a bowl and mix in the lime and orange juices.
• Place some bananas and a little rum cream on each of 6 plates. Place a piece of puff pastry on top. Place the remaining bananas and rum cream on the puff. Drizzle warm caramel sauce over and around the bananas. Top with a second piece of puff. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FROZEN BANANAS

Steps:

• Dipping decorations: granola, chopped nuts, sprinkles, jimmies, crushed cookies, and toasted coconut
• Line a sheet pan with waxed paper. Cut 1-inch off the end of each banana. Insert a popsicle stick into the cut-end of each banana, pushing the stick halfway in, leaving the other end exposed for use as a handle. Place the bananas on the sheet pan and freeze 1 hour.
• Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally.
• Arrange the dipping decorations on several flat plates. Working with 1 banana at a time, dip it in the chocolate and turn to completely coat (spoon some on, if needed). Roll the dipped banana in the desired decorations, transfer to the sheet pan, and return to the freezer.
• Once frozen, store the bananas in an airtight container.
• Serving suggestion: To serve at a kid's party, paint a hunk of styrofoam and stick the banana handles in the top, so they stand upright.

CHOCOLATE BANANA NAPOLEONS (WW)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Place sheet of phyllo dough long-side facing you on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spray with butter-flavored cooking spray. Fold phyllo lengthwise in thirds, for a narrow sheet, about 18 inches long. Spray again.
• Stir 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cocoa together in cup. Sprinkle sugar mixture over phyllo. Cut phyllo crosswise into 6 equal strips using sharp knife. Spread out on baking sheet. Bake in oven until crisp and lightly browned, 8 minutes. Cool.
• Meanwhile, scald milk (heat to just below boiling point) in a small pot. Add remaining sugar and stir to dissolve.
• Combine remaining cocoa and cornstarch in cup. Pour in enough hot milk to make a paste. Stir and return to pot. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Spoon into bowl and cool completely.
• To assemble, fold whipped topping into chocolate mixture. Spread 2 heaping tablespoons mousse mixture over each phyllo sheet. Top each with banana slices. Place 1 phyllo sheet on dessert plate. Add 2 more layers. Repeat to make second serving. Yields 1 per serving.

CHOCOLATE BAKED BANANAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 (or a BBQ). Make a slit through the skin of the bananas along one side - making sure you don't cut all the way through to the other side. Poke in the chocolate buttons along the cut. Put each banana onto a sheet of foil and crimp the edges together to seal into a parcel. Transfer to a baking sheet and cook for 25 mins until the bananas have turned black (or pop straight into the BBQ embers for 15 mins).
• Serve with a scoop of ice cream and any melted chocolate that has escaped!

CHOCOLATE BANANA WAFFLE NAPOLEON

Steps:

• BROWN-SUGAR BUTTER: In a small bowl, combine butter and brown sugar with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add cream, and whisk until creamy and well combined.
• CANDIED NUTS: (Make first): Combine nuts and maple syrup in small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and continue to cook until syrup begins to coat nuts, about 30 minutes. In a medium saucepan, heat canola oil to 350°F Strain nuts to remove any excess syrup. Transfer to a baking sheet to cool. Fry nuts until crispy and any excess caramel is removed. Remove to a baking sheet lined with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper. Let cool.
• WAFFLES:.
• Heat a Belgian-style waffle iron(any kind of waffle iron will do).
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs until smooth.
• The batter will be thick.
• Spray waffle iron with cooking spray.
• Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into each section of the waffle grid; spread batter almost to the edges.
• Close lid; bake 3 minutes, until no steam emerges from waffle iron.
• Transfer cooked waffles to a baking sheet; place in an oven set to low heat, about 200°, while using the remaining batter.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons brown-sugar butter.
• Add bananas, and sauté until softened and golden brown, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
• Add nuts.
• Remove skillet from heat, carefully add Grand Marnier or any of the other choices, and ignite. (optional but worth the effort).
• Allow alcohol to burn off.
• Continue to sauté until bananas and nuts are well coated.
• Split waffles in half.
• Place a half on each of two plates.
• Spoon one-quarter of the banana mixture over each waffle half.
• Top with remaining waffle halves.
• Spoon another one-quarter of the banana mixture over waffles.
• Dust each with confectioners' sugar and then drizzle with chocolate.
• Happy Valentine's Day!

BANANA NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Boil water. Drop the wonton wrappers in one at a time and bring water back to a boil. Boil for about a minute and a half then drain carefully and return wrappers to pot. Fill pot with cold water.
• Brush a cookie sheet with oil. Carefully lift wrappers from water shake off as much water as you can and arrange on sheet. (NOW you know why we used cold water don't you?).
• Place 1 1/4 tbsp of sugar into sieve and top wrappers.
• Cook for 16 to 18 minutes. They should be nicely browned, crisp and glazed. Now remove wrappers from sheet to a cooling rack carefully with thin spatula.
• Mix the lemon rind, lemon juice, peach preserves, and rum in a bowl large enough to hold the bananas.
• Peel the bananas, first cut them in half crosswise, then into 1/3-inch lengthwise slices.
• Add them to the bowl, and mix gently to coat the banana slices with the sauce.
• When you go to serve place a wonton crisp on each of the four dessert plates then divide the banana mixture among the plates, spoon on top of the crisps.
• Place the remaining wonton crisps on top of the bananas, sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of sugar on top.
• Serve immediately.

FROZEN CHOCOLATE BANANAS

Steps:

• 1. Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil or parchment paper.
• 2. Cut the bananas in half and insert a Popsicle stick into each half, as shown. Place them on the baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate with the oil in a Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave (check it every 30 seconds) or in a half-full pan of simmering water (about 2 minutes). Stir until smooth.
• 4. Roll each banana half in the chocolate, then quickly sprinkle with your topping (if using).
• 5. Freeze until the chocolate sets, 30 minutes. Serve or freeze in an airtight container for up to a week.