Frozen Caramelized Banana And Chocolate Bombe Food

BANANA BREAD BOMBE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
• Cream the sugar and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mash the bananas in a small bowl (you should have about 1 cup), add to the mixing bowl and beat until just combined. Turn the mixer to low and slowly add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and 1 tablespoon of the milk and beat until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let cool on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert the bread onto the rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Add the pudding mix to a large bowl and whisk in the heavy cream. Whip until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. (It's fine if there are still a few granules in the mix; they will dissolve once set.)
• Slice the banana bread into 18 slices, each about 1/3 inch thick. Set aside.
• Line a large glass bowl (10 inches wide at the top, 5 1/2 inches wide at the bottom and 4 inches tall) with plastic wrap, leaving at least 1 inch of overhang on all sides. Quickly submerge 1 vanilla wafer cookie into the remaining 1 cup milk, then place the cookie rounded-side up in the bottom of the prepared glass bowl. Continue to dip the cookies and line the bowl until you reach the very top of the bowl, using 55 to 60 cookies total. The cookies should not go over the edge of the bowl, so trim them if necessary.
• Scoop 2 cups of the pudding over the cookies in the bowl, then use the back of a large wooden spoon to gently spread the pudding in one layer over all the cookies, making sure to go all the way to the top of the bowl. Spoon 1 cup of the pudding into the bottom of the bowl and spread it out into a flat layer. Top the pudding with some banana bread slices until mostly covered (you may need to cut up some of the pieces in order for them to fit properly). Top with 1/2 cup of the pudding and spread evenly to cover the bread. Repeat with another layer of banana bread, followed by 3/4 cup of the pudding. Repeat one more time, with another layer of banana bread and the remaining pudding (you will have more bread left).
• Dip about 35 more cookies into the milk and lay in a flat layer over the top of the pudding. Top with the remaining banana bread slices. Fold over the plastic wrap to cover the bowl. Refrigerate until completely chilled and the cookies have softened, at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, carefully invert the bowl onto a large serving platter or cutting board, then use the plastic wrap lining to ease the bombe out of the bowl. Cut into wedges and drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.

CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• chocolate-Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet. Add 2 sliced bananas and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Cook until golden and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the bananas with cinnamon and spoon over rum raisin ice cream.
• Copyright (c)2011 Food Network Magazine, LLC. Published by Hyperion. Available wherever books are sold. All Rights Reserved. Photograph courtesy of Antonis Achilleos.

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.

FROZEN CHOCOLATE BANANAS

Steps:

• Set an empty egg carton, upside-down, on a baking sheet. Cut 8 small holes in the top of the rounds to hold the pop sticks.
• Put the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate on HIGH, stirring occasionally, until melted, about 1 to 2 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave. Stir in the oil and cool slightly.
• Skewer the bananas with a frozen pop stick. Dip the bananas into the chocolate mixture, freeze until the chocolate sets slightly, about 2 minutes. Roll the chocolate bananas in the nuts, and freeze until firm, about 4 hours. Serve frozen.

BANANA SPLIT BOMBE

Steps:

• Place a circle of parchment in the bottom of an 8 × 3-inch springform pan. Lightly coat the bottom of the pan with cooking spray to adhere the parchment; set aside. Put in freezer for 30 minutes.
• Beat 1 1/2 pints chocolate ice cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until soft but still holding its shape, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a small offset spatula or a spoon, spread the ice cream evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan. Work quickly, or the ice cream will not stay on the sides very long. If the ice cream starts to fall, return the ice cream-lined pan to the freezer for 10 minutes, and then finish lining. Transfer the ice cream-lined pan to the freezer until hardened, about 45 minutes.
• In the bowl of a food processor combine 2 bananas, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla. Process 30 seconds or until smooth, and add the remaining banana. Pulse until there are only small pieces of banana, about the size of peas. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and set aside.
• Remove the pan from the freezer, and spread half, about 3/4 cup, of the banana mixture into the bottom of the chocolate ice cream-lined pan. Return to the freezer until hardened, about 2 hours. Cover the remaining banana mixture with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When hardened, remove the pan from the freezer; ladle 1 cup room-temperature hot fudge sauce over the banana layer. Return to the freezer until hardened, about 15 minutes. Set aside the remaining fudge sauce to serve with the finished bombe, or store in a plastic container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Soften the vanilla ice cream as above. Remove the pan from the freezer, and add 1 cup softened vanilla ice cream, using a small offset spatula or spoon to spread it evenly. Return the pan to the freezer, and let the ice cream harden, about 1 hour. The remaining soft vanilla ice cream can be returned to its container and stored in the freezer; it will soften quickly when you need it again.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the walnuts evenly on a baking pan, and toast them in the oven, about 7 minutes, until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from the oven, and let cool. In a medium nonstick sauté pan, combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the cold water. Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved; stop stirring, and let boil. The sugar will begin to caramelize in the pan; you can pick up the pan and slightly swirl the sugar to allow for even caramelizing. Let the caramel turn to a dark golden brown, about 5 minutes, and immediately add the nuts to the pan. Turn off the heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir the nuts in the caramel to coat them evenly. Transfer the nuts directly onto a Silpat baking mat, and spread them into an even layer. Let cool; break into small pieces.
• Remove the ice cream mold from the freezer, and sprinkle an even layer of nuts over the vanilla layer. Remove the banana mixture from the refrigerator, and spread the remaining 3/4 cup over the nuts. Quickly return the mold to the freezer, and let chill. When the banana layer has hardened, about 2 hours, resoften the remaining cup vanilla ice cream and spread it evenly with small offset spatula or spoon.
• When the vanilla ice cream has hardened, soften the remaining cup chocolate ice cream; remove the mold from the freezer. Add the final layer of chocolate ice cream, spreading it all the way to the edges and smoothing the top. If the chocolate ice cream extends above the inside rim of the mold, run your finger around the top of the inside of the rim to give a clean edge. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in freezer to chill, about 4 hours, or overnight. When ready to serve, remove the mold from the freezer, and dip it in very hot water for a few seconds. Unlatch the ring, and gently pull away from the bombe. Using a parchment bottom allows the bombe to slide off the pan base. Transfer the bombe to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice the bombe into wedges, and serve with remaining fudge sauce.
• Hot Fudge Sauce
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the chocolate, butter, sugar, water, and salt. Stir continuously until melted and combined. Add the corn syrup, and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature.