Baked Rum Bananas

Directions

1. 1
   NOTE OF CAUTION: As one reviewer stated, she had an issue with blue flames erupting when she opened her oven door due to backdraft. When cooking with alcohol, one must always be cautious ~ please use EXTREME CARE when opening your oven door. As no other reviewers (or me for that matter) have had this problem, I'm hoping it was a fluke occurance, but wanted to post a warning with this recipe.
2. 2
   Preheat oven to 450°F Place brown sugar, orange juice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and 1/2 cup rum in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until sugar is melted. Remove from heat.
3. 3
   Meanwhile, peel bananas and cut them in half crosswise, then lengthwise, forming 4 pieces from each banana. Place bananas in a single layer in a baking dish. Pour hot rum mixture over bananas. Dot bananas with tiny bits of butter, about 3 dots per banana slice. (You can make dessert up to this point just before dinner, cover, and keep at room temperature until entree course is finished.).
4. 4
   Bake bananas 10 minutes, uncovered, basting with rum mixture occasionally. Sprinkle remaining 1/8 cup rum over bananas and bake 5 minutes more.
5. 5
   TO SERVE: Divide bananas among 4 dinner plates or shallow dessert bowls. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
6. 6
   NOTE: If you can find baby finger bananas in your local supermarket, use them instead of ordinary bananas. They are much more flavorful. Cut each finger banana in half lengthwise. Allow 2 finger bananas per person.