Baked Rum Bananas

FloridaNative's Note:

The Spanish carried bananas with them to the New World in the 1500s, planting the root corms in Central America and the Caribbean islands, where they flourished. With its proximity to Cuba, the Florida Keys encountered the fruit long before the mainland did. Bananas weren't formally introduced to Americans until the 1878 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, where, wrapped in foil, they were sold for 10 cents each. From "The Florida Keys Cookbook" and posted for ZWT5.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 4.0

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Meyer's dark rum, plus
• 1/8 cup Meyer's dark rum
• 4 large bananas
• 1 tablespoon butter
• vanilla ice cream (to serve)

Directions:

1. NOTE OF CAUTION: As one reviewer stated, she had an issue with blue flames erupting when she opened her oven door due to backdraft. When cooking with alcohol, one must always be cautious ~ please use EXTREME CARE when opening your oven door. As no other reviewers (or me for that matter) have had this problem, I'm hoping it was a fluke occurance, but wanted to post a warning with this recipe.
2. Preheat oven to 450°F Place brown sugar, orange juice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and 1/2 cup rum in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until sugar is melted. Remove from heat.
3. Meanwhile, peel bananas and cut them in half crosswise, then lengthwise, forming 4 pieces from each banana. Place bananas in a single layer in a baking dish. Pour hot rum mixture over bananas. Dot bananas with tiny bits of butter, about 3 dots per banana slice. (You can make dessert up to this point just before dinner, cover, and keep at room temperature until entree course is finished.).
4. Bake bananas 10 minutes, uncovered, basting with rum mixture occasionally. Sprinkle remaining 1/8 cup rum over bananas and bake 5 minutes more.
5. TO SERVE: Divide bananas among 4 dinner plates or shallow dessert bowls. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
6. NOTE: If you can find baby finger bananas in your local supermarket, use them instead of ordinary bananas. They are much more flavorful. Cut each finger banana in half lengthwise. Allow 2 finger bananas per person.

Reviews

[ginamac54]

The recipe was good, but the instructions were lacking a crucial piece of information...to stand far back while opening the oven door!!!! I had a backdraft and blue flames shot out of my oven right at me!!! Luckily for once in my life I didn't put my face right into the oven. I thought others should know this so no accidents happen.

[School Chef]

Nice and easy dessert item. I too used petite bananas. will serve again. Made for 2009 Football pool week 12

[momaphet]

I love this combination of flavors, I reduced to a single serving and thought the sauce might be a little skimpy, but it actually was perfect . Made for the Comfort Cafe July 09