Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter or margarine , 3 tablespoons brown sugar , 1/4 cup orange juice , 1 tablespoon dark rum -- (optional) , 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon , 2 bananas , ice cream or pound cake

Method

1. Melt butter in a medium skillet. Stir in brown sugar, orange juice, rum (if used), and cinnamon. Bring to a boil; cook and stir over medium-high heat for several minutes, or until mixture is reduced by about one quarter. Sauce will be slightly syrupy. , 2. Peel bananas, split in half lengthwise, then cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces, or slice bananas crosswise into 1-inch chunks. Add bananas to sauce in pan. Cook bananas just enough to heat through, basting with sauce. Do not overcook, or bananas will be mushy. , 3. Spoon bananas and sauce over ice cream or cake. Serve immediately. , * Timesaver Tip: Recipe can be prepared up to 4 hours ahead. Just before serving, reheat sauce and add bananas. , Variation: Split 3 bananas lengthwise, then cut in half. Follow directions above, adding 2 tablespoons whipping cream or half-and-half along with ingredients in step 1. Arrange 3 banana slices per serving on dessert plates. Spoon on sauce. Garnish with mint sprig. , Microwave Version 1. Place butter in a 9- or 10-inc