Sizzling Banana Sundaes: Crazy from the Heat
Jul 26th, 2008 by Marilyn
July is an upside-down month - as in, steaming outside, freezing inside. It’s too hot to cook, but I’m starving. I couldn’t eat another bite, but…a little something cold for dessert?
Oh, summer desserts. With a damp ponytail and flip-flops, you’d think I’d keep it simple, but no. That scoop of specked vanilla? Purity in a bowl. It needs nothing else, but it’s such a beautiful backdrop. Ice cream clearly welcomes the company of fruits and candies and other sweet bits.
My family’s always a little whacked in the heat, but if a gallon of ice cream appears we turn positively nuts - and bananas, too.
My seasonless weak spot for bananas was sealed long ago. Right after college I worked as an editor by day and in a bookstore at night, often skipping dinner but never missing a snack. By the 8 pm break I’d bolt from the store, run three doors down to Love’s Frozen Yogurt and demand sliced bananas over Double Chocolate Dutch. Seven minutes of frozen peace, one minute of trudge back to work.
Ever get on such a jag you think you might never get off? That whole year I set my watch by frozen yogurt. Standing at the register at 7:58, I was sure that if I didn’t taste chocolate and bananas soon, I’d poof into flame and take the book browsers with me.
And that, my friend, is a jag.
We tend to replace little obsessions with new ones. I no longer require two quick scoops at eight, but I still love chocolate and bananas, especially in summer, when they’re so sweet together they’re practically going steady.
Now, at a darn-close 100 degrees, I’d be crazy to sizzle bananas and dip pecans - but a few minutes at the stove won’t keep me from hot banana caramel and salty chocolate nuts. Which brings us to another upside-down summer thought: I do want to go the pool…I do not want to put on that suit.
Caramelized Banana Sundaes with Salty Chocolate Pecans
vanilla bean ice cream
2-3 bananas, slightly green, not quite ripe
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
dash of cinnamon
1 cup pecan halves
semi-sweet chocolate, about 3 oz
sea salt, for sprinkling
salty chocolate pecans:
Place semi-sweet chocolate in small microwave-safe bowl and use microwave to melt, heating at intervals of no more than 35 seconds each. Remove from microwave after each interval, two or three times, stirring to smooth. Dip each pecan halfway in melted chocolate, and place on a parchment or wax-paper lined sheet. Before chocolate sets, sprinkle chocolate pecans with sea salt. Place in refrigerator to set before serving.
caramelized bananas:
Slice bananas in thick chunks. Place a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat - when hot, sizzle one tablespoon of butter for a few seconds, then add bananas.
Do not stir or move bananas for about 30 seconds; allow to brown. Use a heat-proof spatula to turn bananas over, then add brown sugar, cinnamon, and remaining tablespoon of butter. Shaking pan to keep bananas moving, cook about one minute more, until sugar is melted and bananas are caramelized, but still solid. Remove from heat and serve.
Scoop ice cream into bowls. Top with generous amounts of warm caramelized bananas and chocolate pecans. Get out of the way fast, and serve.
serves 2-4, depending on serving size
LOVE caramalised bananas! I’d skip the ice cream and have thick whipped cream instead
I’m so coming over to your house for dessert! Pecans and bananas are two of my favorite things and once you add ice cream I’m just completely lost. Bring on the calories!
Drooling over the sundae. . .I must have that! Is there anything more perfect?
i don’t even like bananas, but those pictures make me want to try them again!
Whoa. I wish I lived at your house. Your family is so lucky. I don’t suppose you have a spare bedroom I could bunk in??
I do the food jag thing, too, where I get in a habit of craving the same thing at the same time of day. This summer I’ve been making my own pink lemonade pops in the freezer and I just HAVE to have one every afternoon around 4.
I came home yesterday afternoon to find that my daughter had handed all of the lemonade pops out to her neighborhood friends, and there were none left for me. I was so disappointed. I hardly knew what to do with myself when 4:00 rolled around. My husband suggested that I need to come up with a “backup snack plan.”
-Julia
Oh my my my..that looks sooooo good!
I think I am in love!! Wow does this look amazing. As another option as well I put my bananas in the oven with butter and brown sugar.
Cheers
Cathy
http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
‘Get out of the way fast, and serve’ - too right
I was almost gnawing at my computer screen just now. I love bananas, I love chocolate, I love butter! You’re a genius!!
I can’t wait for tomorrow night’s dessert.
Christie:
Welcome! Agreed - I never pass up whipped cream.
Erin:
We’ll save you a dessert spoon!
js @ eatingclub vancouver:
Welcome! And you’re right - few things are better than sugared bananas.
Natalie:
Bananas are a great pregnancy snack; maybe give them a second chance!
Julia:
Pink lemonade pops…now that’s a good jag.
Leslie:
Welcome and thanks!
Cathy C:
Oven-baked bananas are great, too. And grilled. Come to think of it, they’re all good.
K8:
Welcome! I only wish I invented bananas, chocolate and butter - let’s just be grateful they’re here. Thanks!
the word popping to mind here is “sinful” but really, it’s not. bananas have potassium. pecans have good fats. chocolate has antioxidants. ice cream has calcium.
and i’m sold.
Marry Me!
Oh wait, I’m straight. Damn.
I love this sentence - “when they’re so sweet together they’re practically going steady”! I always enjoy reading your posts.
And bananas & chocolate? HECK YA! Any time I splurge at my local custard shop(pe) it’s for the “Fudgy Monkey”. Vanilla custard, bananas and hot fudge sauce. What could be better?
Grace:
Thank you for pointing out the health benefits of our sundaes; perhaps you can find a way to spin Key Lime Pie into a nutritious dessert, too?
Jean:
Plus, I understand he’s baking cookies these days.
The Fiance would be most jealous
Susan:
Good thing I don’t live near your shoppe. They would be permanently out of the Fudgy Monkey.
He made bread (dough) yesterday and baked it this morning. I was still asleep as he tried to shove a piece in my mouth. Umm. It was bad…he said he’s going to try again. Perhaps this time he’ll not feed me whilst I’m snoring…not that I snore…
This looks so good as well!
nummers
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That looks and sounds like HEAVEN….I wanna try making that…I might share it with the kids.
Deliciousness! Amazing.
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