Mango and Coconut Creme Caramel

Bananas Foster

This recipe could more accurately be described as bananas "faux-ster" because there's no ice cream or alcohol. I call it "safe" bananas foster because there's no fire hazard and it's kid-friendly.

Traditional bananas foster is served over vanilla ice cream, but it will work with just about anything. I made a caramel-rum sauce for this dish to pair with my panettone pudding. To repeat the flavors from the bread pudding, I used coconut cream instead of heavy cream. When the caramel was nice and hot, I added sliced ripe bananas to the pan. The bananas softened, absorbed the sweetness of the caramel, and were ready to serve.

Coffee and Cardamom Flavored Creme Caramel

Crème caramel is one of my favorite desserts. It's basically a rich custard with a layer of soft caramel. I dressed this one up with a little espresso powder and cardamom.

Making these desserts reminded me of my childhood. My mom would tell me every day not to eat anything before dinner, but after coming home from school, I would always make a beeline to the refrigerator when she wasn't looking. I would get one crème caramel, flip it onto a plate, and let the delicious caramel flow in every direction. It didn't last very long; I would inhale the dessert and lick all the caramel off the plate before I got caught. You would think that I wouldn't really have enjoyed the dessert because I ate it so fast, but there was something thrilling (and delicious) about sneaking a bite without anyone knowing.  Maybe that's why I named my site Pham Fatale.  I've been in the (food) espionage business for a long time!

These covert operations inevitably would make me too full for dinner. I know I was a terrible child! My parents always wondered why I never ate, and have probably been unaware of my antics until now. Sorry Mom!

I think, in America, crème caramel and flan can be used interchangeably.

Caramel au Beurre Salé (Homemade Sweet Caramel Salted Butter Sauce)

Le caramel au beurre salé is a classic French sauce. It goes perfectly with many desserts: ice cream, plain yogurt, some berries, banana split, apple tartelet or simply for breakfast on a piece of toast. Un pur délice!