Uptown Bananas Recipes

UPTOWN BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine first three ingredients in a small bowl. Press evenly into bottom of a lightly greased 9-inch spring form pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
• Combine bananas and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Stir in brown sugar. Place over medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute or just until sugar has melted. Set aside.
• Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth (around 3 minutes). Gradually add granulated sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, then beat in coffee liqueur and vanilla. Blend well. Pour into prepared vanilla wafer crust. Spoon tablespoonfuls of banana mixture evenly over top, and swirl gently into cream cheese mixture.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Drop spoonfuls of Meringue gently and evenly over hot filling.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until Meringue is golden brown. Remove from oven and gently run a knife around the edge of cheesecake in the spring-form pan to loosen. Cool cheesecake completely on a wire rack. Cover loosely, and chill 8 hours. Release and remove sides of pan.
• [MERINGUE: Beat egg whites and salt at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating until soft peaks form and sugar dissolves (about 1-2 minutes).].

UPTOWN BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE SOUTHERN LIVING

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Press evenly into bottom of a lightly greased 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
• Combine diced bananas and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a small saucepan. Stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Place over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute or just until sugar has melted. Set aside.
• Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer 3 minutes or until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup granulated sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Beat in coffee liqueur and vanilla. Pour into prepared vanilla wafer crust. Spoon tablespoonfuls of banana mixture evenly over top, and swirl gently into cream cheese mixture.
• MERINGUE:.
• Beat egg whites and salt at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until soft peaks form and sugar dissolves (about 1 to 2 minutes). Set aside.
• Bake cake, not Meringue, at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Drop spoonfuls of Meringue gently and evenly over hot filling.
• Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until Meringue is golden brown. Remove from oven, and gently run a knife around edge of cheesecake in springform pan to loosen. Cool cheesecake completely on a wire rack. Cover loosely, and chill 8 hours. Release and remove sides of pan.

UPTOWN BANANAS

Steps:

• Peel banana and slice lengthwise.
• Spread 1 T of nut butter (or desired amount) on each banana half.
• Sprinkle granola over one banana half; press granola lightly to make it stick.
• Top with second half and enjoy!
• Some variation possibilities: spread with dulce de leche, cashew butter, hot fudge, even ricotta cheese-- sprinkle with granola, coconut, sunflower seeds, nuts, chocolate chips-- YUM!