Banana Fosters Pancakes

A perfect Sunday morning feast!
At work this week we made banana fosters all week as a dessert with vanilla ice cream(this did not suck!). I love this as a breakfast with pancakes or french toast. The bananas soak up the sugar and evolve into that perfect consistency. I have played with this using plantains which are great and a heartier texture. They take a little longer to cook.
 I tried four different pancake recipes but I didn't really like any of them enough to post it here, so just use what ever pancake batter you like. I am still seeking that perfect pancake recipe... Let me know if you have a great one!
I also wrote this as a one person per serving.

Ingredients-
1/2 Banana sliced
3 Tbl Butter
2 Tbl Brown Sugar
1oz Rum
Pancake batter

Directions-
1. Make your pancakes and hold them in the oven at 170 degrees.
2. In a medium saute pan over medium heat add butter, once melted add your brown sugar and cook for  60-90 seconds. Plate up your pancakes.
3. Add bananas and cook for 45 seconds flip over bananas and cook for 30 more seconds.
4. Add rum and flambe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1QcTtMrkpE here is a video to help. Once the flame goes out pour bananas and sauce over the pancakes ...enjoy!

Sweet Korean Potatoes with Sesame Seeds

This side dish plays well with the Korean BBQ. If I ever own a food truck these two are so on the menu.

Ingredients-
1 1/4lb Small red or white new potatoes
1/3 Cup Korean BBQ marinade(see Korean BBQ post)
2 Tbl Oil(I used grape seed oil use what you have)
2 Tbl Water
2 Tbl Corn syrup
1 Tbl Sesame seeds(Sesame seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, domesticated well over 3000 years ago.)

Directions-
1. Rinse potatoes, in a med. sauce pot fill half way with water and bring to a boil.
2. Add potatoes to boiling water for 4-5 min., insert knife into potato to test firmness. Potato should be firm yet easily pierced with knife.
3. Strain potatoes and set out to dry.
4. In a wok or large saute pan heat oil over medium high heat, once hot add potatoes and saute for 2-3 min.
5. Add water and marinade, cook until sauce starts to thicken.
6. Add Corn syrup, increase heat to high. Mix until all potatoes are coated with sauce and have a nice caramel color.
7. Sprinkle on sesame seeds… enjoy

White Chocolate and Strawberry Bread Pudding

We went to a friend's house for a Super Bowl party(that is why it's a paper plate…but it is also known as the poor man's pudding dating back to the 11th century so I suppose that it is fitting)  a nice easy dessert would be bread pudding . You can put just about anything you like into it. My favorite is butterscotch chips. Luckily the bread pudding turned out a winner unlike the Broncos!

Ingredients-
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup Whole Milk
1 5oz Sweetened and Condensed Milk
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Egg Yolks
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1lb Strawberries
1 11oz bag White Chocolate Chips(White chocolate is not chocolate in the strict sense as it does not contain cocoa solids)
1 Loaf French Bread(or any bread you like)


Directions-
1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, yolks, brown sugar and salt.
2. Add cream, milk and sweetened condensed milk and whisk.
3. Cut bread into 1/2 inch size pieces.
4. Cut strawberries into quarters.
5. In a 9X13inch pan add bread and white chocolate and strawberries.
6. Pour in batter, cover with foil and cook at 325 degrees
7. Cook for 45 min. bread pudding should not jiggle and be firm, center should not have any liquid
8. When done(it may take longer then 45 min. it is done when it is done so be patient) cut bread Pudding into 3X8 pieces.

Creame Brulee French Toast

We are a breakfast kind of family. My little man would eat french toast morning, noon and night! This recipe is a rich spin on creme brulee (my wife's dog is named Brulee which tells you how much she love the stuff!). It feels like dessert for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Ingredients-
8 Egg Yolks
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Heavy Cream
2 Tbl Vanilla(Vanilla is the second most expensive spice after Saffron)
1 French Baguette cut into 3/4 inch wide pieces(use what ever bread that you have. I will sadly admit to using plain white bread before. Challah is awesome with it as well.)

Directions-
1. Separate yolks from egg whites and put Yolks in med. mixing bowl.
2. Add Sugar and whisk.
3. Add Cream and Vanilla and whisk...you want the batter to be the consistency of thick tomato soup
4. Cut Baguette in to 3/4 inch pieces
5. Heat a large saute pan with a little butter (or what ever you use for French Toast) over medium heat.
6. Dip bread into batter make sure both sides of bread get a good coating. Place into hot pan.
7. Cook 3-4 min. per side( it should have a darker crust then normal).
8. Plate with fresh fruit( and of course butter and syrup) and Enjoy.

Sweet and Spicy BLT with Avocado

Ingredients-
1LB Thick Cut Bacon
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Black Pepper( Black Pepper is the worlds most traded spice)
2 TBL to 1/4 Cup Crushed Red Pepper (Depending on how much heat you like)
1 Head Lettuce
1 Tomato
1 Avocado
1 Fresh Loaf French Bread

Directions-
1. Mix Brown Sugar, Black Pepper and Crushed Red Pepper in small bowl.
2. Place parchment paper on sheet tray, place bacon on tray overlap bacon by 1/8 inch.
3. Evenly spread Brown Sugar mix over bacon.
4. Bake at 350 degrees 8-10 min. rotate tray cook for 3-5min. or until bacon is cooked.
5. While bacon is cooking, cut Tomato, Lettuce, avocado and bread.(add mayo or what ever you like)
6. Once Bacon is cooked add 4-5 pieces(or 9 like a guy at work did) to sandwich and enjoy.