toasty bananas foster

i have never been a huge fan of bananas, or anything banana-flavored. however, when i did a trial run of bananas foster for dessert, i was hooked. so maybe i only like syrup-y bananas. :)
after a dreary day at work, this fast, simple and decadent dessert will bring you lots of comfort - especially if you have a gigantic sweet tooth like mine.
i modified the recipe a bit, and also added some toasted coconut for an added texture and flavor.

ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamon
1 jigger of banana liquer
1 jigger of dark rum
3 bananas, peeled and sliced crosswise and lengthwise
1/2 cup fine coconut
french vanilla ice-cream

steps:
set the oven to 350ºF and pour the coconut onto a clean baking sheet. once the oven's ready, pop the baking sheet in and monitor the coconut as it toasts. mine took about 5mins i'd say (i wasn't monitoring too well). when it's toasted, let it cool on a cooling rack.
while that's going, get out a medium saucepan and start melting the butter over medium heat.
add the dark brown sugar, cinnamon and cardamon to that and allow it to melt. once it's beginning to bubble, add the banana liquer and bananas. once the bananas are softening, add the dark rum. using a kitchen torch, light the alcohol and allow it burn off. hello flambé!
once the flames are out, scoop some ice-cream into a bowl and pour the sauce over it. (or spoon on the side).

add some toasted coconut to the top, and you're all done.

if you manage to have leftover sauce, store it in a small container and pop it into the fridge. you can warm some up the next day. :)

cPe 2008