Broiled Brown Sugar Vanilla Bananas Atop Ricotta Recipes

BROILED BROWN SUGAR-VANILLA BANANAS ATOP RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler, with rack 6 inches from heat source. Mix ricotta and nutmeg in a small bowl. Mix sugars, salt, and vanilla in a small bowl. Cut bananas diagonally 1/4 inch thick, keeping slices in order as you cut. Discard tips.
• Spread 1/4 cup ricotta mixture in each of four 5-inch-wide by 1-inch-deep baking dishes. Fan 1 banana around edge of each dish, creating a circle. Gently press bananas into ricotta mixture. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush bananas with water, then sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons sugar mixture. Pat sugar into an even layer on top of bananas to prevent the sugar from clumping and burning.
• Broil until sugar has caramelized and bananas have softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately.

BROILED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Peel bananas and slice them crosswise into 3/4-inch thick slices. Mix the brown sugar and lime juice and toss this with bananas. Spread the sliced bananas in a shallow baking pan and broil, as close to the heat source as possible, until the sugar has melted into a glaze - 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a pretty serving bowl and serve immediately - topped with sour cream and nuts if you wish.

RICOTTA AND VANILLA BEAN PUDDINGS

Steps:

• For the puddings: Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter 10 nonstick muffin cups and line the bottom of each cup with a disk of parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a blender, combine the ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, eggs, heavy cream, maple syrup, sugar, and salt. Using a paring knife, split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the blender. (Reserve the seeded vanilla pod for the sauce.) Blend the mixture until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until puffed and lightly browned. Remove the muffin cups from the oven to a wire rack and cool for 30 minutes (puddings will deflate during cooling). Refrigerate the puddings, in the muffin cups, for 2 hours. Using a thin, flexible spatula, carefully remove the puddings from the muffin cups and discard the parchment paper from the bottom of the puddings.
• For the sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the reserved vanilla pod, cranberries, water, orange juice, orange zest and 1/2 cup sugar over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat and gently simmer until the mixture has thickened and the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes. Remove the vanilla pod and sweeten with extra sugar, to taste, if necessary.
• To serve: Arrange the puddings on small dessert plates and spoon the sauce over the top.

RICOTTA WITH VANILLA-SUGAR CROUTONS AND BERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, toss together the bread cubes and melted butter. Add the vanilla sugar and toss until the bread cubes are coated in sugar. Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely.;
• In a small saucepan, bring the orange juice, lemon juice, and sugar to a simmer, over medium-low heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the blueberries and strawberries and simmer until the fruit softens, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool the syrup to room temperature.
• Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well.
• To serve: Divide the ricotta mixture between 4 decorative dessert bowls. Spoon the fruit syrup over the ricotta and top with the croutons. Garnish with the sliced mint.
• Place the sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Using a paring knife, slice the vanilla bean in half, lengthways, and scrape out the seeds. Add the vanilla seeds to the sugar. Pulse 10 to 15 times until the vanilla and sugar are combined. Cut the empty vanilla pod into 1-inch pieces and place in a glass mason jar. Add the vanilla sugar to the jar and seal. Shake the jar before using.

BANANAS IN BROWN SUGAR AND RUM

Steps:

• Peel bananas, and carefully cut in half lengthwise.
• In a medium saute pan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and swirl until dissolved.
• Add 2 bananas, cut side down, and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, turning very carefully.
• Pouring from a measuring cup, with the pan off the heat, add 1/4 cup rum. Stand back from stove, and return pan to heat. Shake the pan, allowing rum to ignite. Let the alcohol burn off, and again shake the pan, to coat the bananas. Cook until glazed and translucent, about 1 minute longer.
• Remove bananas to warm plates, divide sauce between them, and repeat with remaining 2 bananas.
• Garnish each banana with a little dab of creme fraiche or sour cream, and serve immediately.