I like to improvise in the kitchen . . . whenever I have ingredients that are
too ripe or just about to expire, I think fast on my feet and come up with a
way to salvage and enjoy before it's too late! Plus, I hate to throw food
away. I grew up with an
Italian Mother and Grandmother, and you didn't dare waste food! "No, no, no . . . you don't toss the heal
of the bread out. You don't waste stale bread. You can still use that brown
banana. What do you mean that tomato is too far gone, let me see!" It's these
voices I hear and who keeps me creating ways to use the ingredients I have on
hand.
Does anyone else notice
bananas seem to ripen faster in their RVs? Is it just me? Well, that's what happened on our trip to Chattanooga. The
bananas I brought from
Tampa
had gone a little too far for us to enjoy just as a snack by themselves.
Whilst we were in Chattanooga, touring the
Train Depot
and
Songbirds Guitar Museum
I had noticed a little shop directly across the street from the
Chattanooga Choo Choo,
Chattanooga Whiskey Company. Hmmmm? I love whiskey. I love local flavors.
The crew was still filming shots of the area, Kevin was collecting equipment
and our mics, so I crossed the street and was greeted with a smiling face and
"would you like to sample our whiskey?" Um, yes please! Unbeknownst to Kevin
and the crew, I came out with a bottle of their
sweet whiskey
and some fire roasted pecans. The dessert recipe was already taking place
inside my head.
INGREDIENTS
Over ripe bananas (I had 6)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup
mascarpone cheese
(you can use butter, but I did not have any with me)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 - 1/2 cup whiskey (to taste - a lot will burn off)
1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans (don't make them too small. Any choice of
nuts here will work too.)
Vanilla ice cream
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat
cast iron skillet
over medium heat, add mascarpone (or butter) to melt.
Add brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and bananas. Stir until mascarpone
(or butter) is melted. Try not to break up bananas.
Remove pan from heat when adding whiskey. If cooking over a flame (gas stove
or grill), tip pan near flame to ignite alcohol. Flame will burn down slowly
as alcohol cooks off. Once flame is low, you can stir again.
Spoon hot mixture over scoop (or scoops) of vanilla ice cream, top with
pecans . . . enjoy!
This was my first time EVER
flambé-ing
anything, and I was doing it on camera. I had one take for this, and might I
say, I nailed it! I was worried, slightly, about my
eyebrows
after we wrapped filming, but relieved to know they were still intact. Ha! I
grabbed 7 spoons and we all devoured the dessert. Success!
I was using the
Magma Crossover Series Double Firebox Grill. Only using the burner for my cast iron skillet. It works just great as a
"stove top" too! You can watch the Campfire Bananas Foster segment as part
of the RV There Yet? "Chattanooga" episode.
MORE RV THERE YET?
.webp "Magma Grills")