Banana and Cinnamon

The question I had after looking at Sunita's "Think Spice - cinnamon" event "Which is the dessert I repeat often and cannot do without cinnamon in that". The answer was there besides me in a plate - Baked banana with cinnamon. I make two versions of "banana and cinnamon" combination so often because they are very satisfying and low calorie at the same time. Both the dishes take less than 10 minutes to make. The baked or caramelized bananas wouldn't taste the same without the subtle rooty cinnamony flavor on the background.


Version 1: Baked Banana with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon


Ingredients:
1. One banana - slit midway twice into four pieces
2. Brown sugar - 2 tbsp. I use splenda brown sugar
3. Cinnamon powder - 2 tsp

Mix brown sugar and cinnamon powder in a bowl. Preheat oven to 275F. Place the bananas on a baking sheet,and smother them with butter. I usually use PAM butter spray. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture onto the bananas and bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the brown sugar has melted. Sprinkle some Oats or nuts and enjoy it with low fat vanilla yogurt.


Version 2: Cinnamon caramelized bananas in orange syrup


Ingredients:
1. One banana - slit midway twice into four pieces
2. Brown sugar - 2 tbsp
3. Cinnamon powder - 2 tsp
4. Orange juice - 3 tbsp + orange rind - 2 tsp. Lemon can also be used.
5. Persimmon or dates or strawberries - 3-4 tbsp chopped (optional)
6. Pistachios - roasted and roughly chopped
7. Butter/Smart balance - 1/2 tbsp

In a pan heat butter, brown sugar and cinnamon powder until the sugar melts. Add the bananas, persimmons and orange rind and juice. Coat the bananas with the syrup while cooking and turn them over. Cook until the bananas soften, about 5 minutes. Serve with chopped pistachios and cream or yogurt. Drizzle the left over syrup on the cream or yogurt.